MLB Team Report – Arizona Diamondbacks – INSIDE PITCH
Right-hander Josh Collmenter flies under the radar, but he fills a under-appreciated niche as the only long reliever in the Diamondbacks’ bullpen. His value is especially noticeable when the team needs length in extra-inning games.
Collmenter (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings in the D’backs’ 8-6, 12-inning victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, when Arizona won its fourth straight series against Dodgers while moving to 8-2 in extra-inning games this year.
He gave up only a bunt single after entering in the 10th inning and was the beneficiary of the D’backs’ four-run 12th-inning that featured a go-ahead double by Martin Prado, an RBI single by Cliff Pennington and a two-run single by Gerardo Parra.
Collmenter’s victory was his second in nine games — he pitched four scoreless innings in a 7-6, 14-inning victory at St. Louis on June 4. Collmenter gave up four hits and struck out five in that appearance, leaving the potential winning run in scoring position in the 11th, 12th and 13th innings.
“He’s special. Whenever you give him the ball, he’s able to pitch,” D’backs catcher Miguel Montero said.
All of Collmenter’s victories this season have come in extra-inning games, two against the Cardinals. He gave up one run and struck out five while pitching the final five innings a 10-9, 16-inning victory on April 3, the third game of the season. He did that on zero days of rest after getting the final five outs in an April 2 loss to the Cardinals.
“Starter two was better than starter one,” D’backs right-hander Brandon McCarthy said at the time after he gave up six runs in five-plus innings.
Collmenter, 27, does not overpower the speed gun. He complements an 88 mph fastball with a 71 mph changeup and a developing curve. But he throws strikes, is not afraid to challenge hitters and seems to keep them constantly off-balance. He has a 2.86 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings out of the bullpen this season.
He has filled a variety of roles since joining the D’backs in April, 2011. He won his major league debut in relief in extra innings April 17, pitched six shutout innings in his first major league start May 14, a 1-0 victory against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, and moved his way to the No. 3 spot in the starting rotation in the NLDS against Milwaukee, finishing his rookie year 10-10 with a 3.38 ERA.
Collmenter struggled in his first five starts in 2012 and spent the rest of the year primarily in the bullpen, although he made seven spot starts over the final 3 1/2 months, including one on 15 minutes’ notice against the Chicago Cubs on June 22 when scheduled starter Joe Saunders felt tightness while warming up in the bullpen prior to the game.
“Phenomenal,” Montero said about Collmenter’s ability to rise to the occasion.
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MLB Team Report – Arizona Diamondbacks – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 27-29
STREAK: Won one
PAST 10 GAMES: 5-5
NEXT: Diamondbacks (Trevor Cahill, 3-7, 4.02) at Padres (Eric Stults, 5-5, 3.53)
PLAYER NOTES:
–RHP Nate Adcock was claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. He is 1-4 with a 3.79 ERA in 95 innings of work in the majors in his career. The Diamondbacks optioned him to Triple-A Reno.
–LHP Patrick Corbin missed out on becoming the first player in Arizona history to start 10-0 after he allowed four runs over six innings against the Dodgers on Wednesday. Corbin has two straight no-decisions after winning seven straight starts. He also missed out on becoming the first pitcher in the majors with double-digit wins this year.
–RHP Trevor Cahill has labored this year but has a chance to regain his form at friendly Petco Park on Friday. Cahill has a pedestrian 3-7 record this year but a 1-0 record with a 0.60 ERA in San Diego. In his career against the Padres, he’s 2-2 with a 2.64 ERA in five starts.
–1B Paul Goldschmidt continued his domination of the Dodgers this season, going 2-for-6 Wednesday night. He’s 14-for-39 (.359) with four home runs and 12 RBIs in nine games against Los Angeles this year.
–LF Cody Ross tied his career high with four hits Wednesday in an 8-6, 12-inning win over Los Angeles. Ross, who has collected four hits in a game six times, had a crucial double in the 12th to spark a four-run rally. “The teams that play the close, tough games throughout the year are more inclined to play well down the stretch and in pressure situations — we’ve been doing it the whole year,” Ross said. “To have what, 12 extra-inning games we’ve won, a few walkoffs? Those are huge character-building games for our team.”
–C Miguel Montero stroked a career-high-tying four hits, reaching that figure for the third time. Montero, whose season high for hits before the game was two, had a game-tying single in the seventh inning.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s a funny game. To get 20 hits, not hit a home run, do it the old-fashioned way, that’s good.” — RF Cody Ross, after the Diamondbacks’ 8-6, 12-inning win over the Dodgers.
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MLB Team Report – Arizona Diamondbacks – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–LHP Matt Reynolds (left elbow strain) went on the 15-day disabled list June 10. An MRI exam revealed a slight tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, and Reynolds was shut down until late July.
–RHP Brandon McCarthy (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 31. An MRI exam on June 3 revealed a recurrence of McCarthy’s perennial stress fracture of his right scapula. He was shut down until mid-June before he can begin a throwing program. Unrelated to his elbow, McCarthy suffered a seizure on June 3 related to being hit in the head on a line drive last September. He was taken to a local hospital and put on anti-seizure medication before being cleared to resume his rehabilitation.
–3B Eric Chavez (strained right oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list May 31 after injuring his rib cage muscle fouling off a pitch. He was at the park June 9 and said he may be able to resume baseball activities in mid-June.
–CF Adam Eaton (torn left elbow ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. An MRI revealed a slight tear in his ulnar collateral ligament. He began a rehab assignment as the designated hitter for Triple-A Reno on May 3, then moved to Class A Visalia on May 11. He returned to Reno on May 20. He played in the outfield for the first time at Visalia on May 17 but felt pain in his elbow that was ruled to be just an irritation with no structural damage, according to the team. An MRI exam showed fluid on his elbow, and Eaton received a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews that surgery was not necessary. He appeared in 16 minor league games before being shut down. He began a new throwing program June 10.
–RHP J.J. Putz (right elbow strain) went on the 15-day disabled list May 8. He was diagnosed with a strained ulnar collateral ligament, but he is not expected to need surgery. He threw bullpen sessions June 8 and June 11, and he’s scheduled to pitch a simulated game June 14 before beginning a minor league rehab assignment.
–2B Aaron Hill (fractured left hand) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 15. He played in an extended spring training game June 11. Hill is expected to hit in a second intrasquad game June 12 before taking June 13 off.
–RHP Daniel Hudson (Tommy John surgery in July 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 20. He began a rehab assignment June 4 with Double-A Mobile, but he left after two innings due to elbow stiffness. He re-tore the UCL in his right elbow and will need a second Tommy John procedure before he can return, setting him back at least another 12 months.
ROTATION:
RHP Ian Kennedy
RHP Trevor Cahill
LHP Wade Miley
LHP Patrick Corbin
BULLPEN:
RHP Heath Bell (closer)
RHP David Hernandez
RHP Brad Ziegler
LHP Tony Sipp
RHP Josh Collmenter
RHP Will Harris
LHP Joe Paterson
RHP Charles Brewer
CATCHERS:
Miguel Montero
Wil Nieves
INFIELDERS:
1B Paul Goldschmidt
2B Martin Prado
SS Didi Gregorius
3B Willie Bloomquist
INF Cliff Pennington
UT Josh Wilson
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Jason Kubel
CF Gerardo Parra
RF Cody Ross
OF A.J. Pollock
OF Eric Hinske
