Postgame Recap (8/3/17) – D-backs 10, Cubs 8: The Paul Goldschmidt Game

It was almost like the scene out of a movie, although it lasted nearly as long as two full-length films. What was supposed to start at 11:20 am mountain time finally ended at somewhere near 6 pm. As storms whipped through the Valley, it seemed like an appropriate scene as this game, delayed three times and over 2 1/2 hours by rain delays, finally came to a conclusion.

Paul Goldschmidt was an absolute beast today. He crushed a three-run home run in the top of the first inning — after a 1 1/2 hour delay to get the game started — giving the Diamondbacks an early lead. Brandon Drury then hit his ninth home run, a solo bomb off the scoreboard in left field, to give the D-backs a 4-0 lead.

After a second rain stoppage lasted 30 minutes, the Cubs added a run in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Willson Contreras hit a solo home run to get the Cubs on the board. The D-backs would take a 4-1 lead into the top of the 5th inning.

With two outs in the top of the 5th, A.J. Pollock singled. Paul Goldschmidt followed, hammering his second home run of the day. That gave the D-backs a 6-1 lead. The Cubs would add a run in the bottom of the frame on a wild pitch by Zack Greinke that scored Javy Baez, who tripled earlier in the inning.

Greinke came out in the bottom of the 6th inning and allowed back-to-back singles to Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Willson Contreras followed with his second home run of the day to cut the D-backs lead to one run.

The bottom of the 7th started in similar fashion. Javy Baez singled and that was the end of Greinke’s day. Baez then stole second base off D-backs reliever David Hernandez, who was making his first appearance since being acquired via trade on Monday. The inning turned into a pitching carousel for the Diamondbacks.

Hernandez stuck out a batter and was then replaced by Andrew Chafin. He walked a batter and was replaced by Archie Bradley. Bradley struck out Kris Bryant and then walked Anthony Rizzo to load the bases. Willson Contreras singled scoring two runs and giving the Cubs a 7-6 lead. Back and forth we go as the game headed to the top of the 8th inning.

The D-backs loaded the bases after starting the inning with consecutive walks and a single by by Brandon Drury. Jake Lamb then singled to score Goldy and J.D. Martinez, giving the D-backs a one-run lead yet again.

The D-backs pitching changes continued in the bottom of the 8th. After Jorge De La Rosa issued a one-out walk to Jason Heyward, he was replaced by Jake Barrett, who walked the next batter giving the Cubs runners on first and second. The next batter, Ben Zobrist, would single to load the bases. Jon Jay then hit a grounder to shortstop Adam Rosales, who stumbled making the play. That gave Jay just enough time to beat out the throw on the double-play attempt, allowing the tying run to score.

The game then entered a third rain delay, this one lasting 30 more minutes. After the game started back up, Goldschmidt came up with one out in the inning and hit his third home run of the game. Martinez would add a solo basket shot giving the D-backs a lead they would not relinquish.

Stats that matter

• Paul Goldschmidt looked every bit of an MVP today – 3-for-4, 4 R, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 3 HR = WOW!
• Greinke had to withstand major delays and really grinded this one out –  6 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 2 HR
• Six relievers chipped in to get this one across the finish line – 3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 6 BB, 7 K

Bottom line

This game was truly a marathon, lasting 3 hours and 59 minutes with two hours and 35 minutes of rain delays. Losing this would have stung.

Paul Goldschmidt literally threw this team up on his back today and powered them to the win by getting his first career 3-homer game. If there were people around the country who didn’t realize how good Goldy is, they certainly realize it now. This was a big-time win.

On deck

The D-backs fly to San Francisco for a three-game set that starts on Friday at 7:15 pm MT. Anthony Banda was recalled today and will make the spot start tomorrow night, his second career appearance for the Diamondbacks.