With their backs up against the wall, the Arizona Diamondbacks came up big Tuesday night, extending their NLDS series with the Milwaukee Brewers. A pair of rookies, Paul Goldschmidt and Josh Collmenter, led the Diamondbacks to their game three victory.
The Diamondbacks jumped ahead early on Brewers starter Shaun Marcum, scoring two runs in the bottom of the 1st. Arizona’s lead was cut in half on Corey Hart’s 3rd inning solo home run, but the Diamondbacks answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame.
Game three remained locked at 3-1 until the Diamondbacks broke things wide open in the 5th. With the bases loaded, Paul Goldschmidt tripled Arizona’s lead with his first Major League grand slam. The home run brought the rookie’s RBI total to five on the night.
Meanwhile, Collmenter was phenomenal, silencing a Brewers offense that had put up 13 runs over the first two games of the series. The right-hander allowed only a pair of hits and walks last night while striking out six.
Following Collmenter’s seven strong innings of work, the Diamondbacks turned to their strong late-inning relievers to close out the contest. David Hernandez and J.J. Putz did what they’ve been doing all season long, and the Diamondbacks went on to collect their first win of the series.
Arizona will look to carry the momentum over to game four, as they still find themselves behind 2-1. Tonight’s contest will be a pitching rematch of the NLDS opener, as it’s Ian Kennedy vs. Yovani Gallardo round two in the desert.
For more on the Diamondbacks and Brewers, be sure to check out Venom Strikes and Reviewing the Brew.