Arizona Diamondbacks: Winning streak reaches 12 games

The Arizona Diamondbacks have now led or tied in 98 straight innings. That’s the third-best streak since 1912.

The winning streak continued, and the Arizona Diamondbacks clearly left a calling card.

Addressed to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the message said something like, “We don’t care what happened during the regular season. See you in the first week of October.”

That’s a strong reference to meeting in postseason play, and the Diamondbacks, based on how they have handled the Dodgers this season, clearly stand in the way of any Dodger glory this fall.

After the Diamondbacks scored two unearned runs in the 10^th inning to pull out a 3-1 victory over the Dodgers Tuesday night before 47,039 in Dodger Stadium, there were two clear factors at work. These variables represent how the Diamondbacks do business these days.

First, consider how the Diamondbacks are winning.

The win on Tuesday night stretches their current winning streak to 12 games, and that ties a franchise record that was set between June 18-30, 2003. At the same time, the Diamondbacks have led or tied for 98 consecutive innings. That is the third-longest streak since 1912. The 2002 Oakland A’s hold the record with 102 innings, followed by the 1942 New York Yankees (101).

Either mark is impressive, and Zack Greinke, the starter in Tuesday’s game, told Call to the Pen the scoreless streak stands alone.

"“I didn’t know it was that long,” he said after allowing one run in seven strong innings. “That’s pretty amazing, and better than the winning streak.”"

How this team scored the two in the 10^th demonstrates that good teams find ways to win. Trailing 1-0 early, Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal tied this one with his 19^th homer of the season to lead off the fifth.

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Later in the 10^th, L.A. reliver Pedro Baez walked the first two hitters and A.J. Pollock and J.D. Martinez then moved to second and third on a grounder. Brandon Drury then hit a ground ball to third and Justin Turner’s throw to the plate deflected off Grandal and both Pollock and Martinez scored.

In the frame, the Diamondbacks picked up the go-ahead runs without the benefit of a hit, and validated the observation that good teams manufacture wins.

After the game, Pollock told Call to the Pen exactly how that dimension of winning now characterizes the Diamondbacks’ current approach to playing the game.

"“Look, the good teams find ways to win, and that’s what we are doing,” he said. “Also, I think a big reason for the winning streak is that we want to get ahead early and stay on top of the team we’re playing. Right now, we’re playing good baseball, and doing things right.”"

If the Diamondbacks continue to manufacture runs, the starting pitching is another important reason for their surge. Feeding off Robbie Ray’s dominant effort on Monday night, Greinke went seven strong innings, and allowed only the homer to Grandal. Despite the no-decision and Greinke’s failure to gain a major league-leading 17^th win, his ERA dropped to 3.01 for 28 starts.

Afterward, Greinke told Call to the Pen that starters are now feeding off one another and pushing the staff into a positive direction.

"“Robbie turned in another great effort (Monday night) and I felt the energy to match him,” he said. “I couldn’t pick up the pace.”"

While the Wednesday night schedule has the Diamondbacks and Dodgers meeting for the final time in the regular season, there is a strong prospect of these teams meeting again in early October. For that to happen, the Diamondbacks need to win the Wild Card Game and then match up with the Dodgers in one of the National League Division Series. It’s likely the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals would meet in the other NL Division Series.

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With the runaway train that was the Dodgers until mid-August, the Diamondbacks have closed the gap. Coming into Wednesday’s game, the Dodgers hold an 11.5-game lead on Arizona with 24 to play, but the math does not favor the Diamondbacks. Yet, before Wednesday’s game the Diamondbacks hold the series edge 10-8 and will defeat the Dodgers in a season series for the first time since 2013.

From the Diamondbacks’ vantage point, that’s clearly something for the Dodgers to think about early next month.