azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Jack Magruder, Tribune
TUCSON - Right-hander Brandon Lyon had another dominating inning Saturday, earning his first spring save while positioning himself as a viable closing option in the unexpected chance that Greg Aquino’s elbow injury lingers.
Lyon struck out two of the three men he faced in the ninth inning of the Diamondbacks’ 4-3 victory over San Diego, both with sliders, and got the out on a line drive to first. He has struck out six of the nine men he has faced this spring.
"He’s been as impressive as any pitcher we’ve had in camp,’’ manager Bob Melvin said. "He’s the kind of guy who can get you a strikeout. He can get you a ground ball. He can get left-handers out.’’
Melvin said Lyon’s combination of sinking fastball, slider and curveball keeps hitters off balance.
"He can throw you sinkers. He can slip a curveball up there and see how you react to that, and save the slider and throw it to you when you haven’t even seen it,’’ Melvin said.
"Usually a reliever really only has time to establish two pitches. This guy has three, four with the change-up.’’
Aquino, who has not pitched since the spring opener March 3 because of a strained flexor mass in his right elbow, threw for 13 minutes in the bullpen Saturday morning before being examined again by team physician Michael Lee.
Pitching coach Mark Davis said Aquino’s mechanics improved as the session went on and may have contributed to his soreness. Aquino is to play long toss today. His next game appearance has not been scheduled.
SHADES OF THE PAST
Alex Cintron had four hits Saturday, two singles and two doubles, and while playing the whole game at third base made a backhanded stop and throw to take a hit away from Damian Jackson in the eighth.
"Alex is a good player. He just had a tough year last year,’’ Melvin said. "I think he is closer to the guy who put up numbers two years ago than last year.’’
Cintron hit .317 with 13 homers and 51 RBIs in 2003, becoming the everyday shortstop in the second half of the season, before slumping to .262 with four homers and 49 RBIs in 116 more at-bats last season.
"In the National League, you can’t understate what a guy like he can do for you,’’ Melvin said. "From the day he has gotten to camp, he has really been on a mission. He just makes our 25-man team that much stronger."
BACK IN SYNC
Rotation candidate Michael Gosling gave up a double to his first batter and hit his second in the sixth inning Saturday but retired the final six batters he faced in his two innings. He got out of a first-and-third, one-out situation in the top of the sixth inning by striking out Khalil Greene with a cut fastball and fielding a comebacker.
Gosling struck out Josh Barfield in the seventh with a curve.
"His curveball was better,’’ Melvin said.
Gosling said he focused on his mechanics, especially arm extension, and said, "If I do that, my stuff gets immeasurably better.’’
SHORT HOPS
Tony Pena, who pitched two innings against the Cubs on Friday, reported forearm tightness Saturday and was diagnosed with a flexor tendon strain in his right forearm, D-Backs trainer Paul Lessard said. "We’ll see how he is tomorrow and re-evaluate him,’’ Melvin said. . . .
First base coach Brett Butler worked with the full squad on sliding drills Saturday morning, and Melvin said he wants a team that will aggressively go into second base in force or double-play situations. . . .
The crowd of 10,852 was the largest at Tucson Electric Park this season.
ON DECK
-
D-Backs (ss) at Athletics
D-Backs (ss) at Brewers What: The D-Backs play split-squad games in the Valley for the only time this spring today, with manager Bob Melvin working the game against Oakland at Phoenix Municipal Stadium and bench coach Jay Bell handling the game against Milwaukee in Maryvale. Both games start at 1:05 p.m. TV/radio: None/KTAR (620 AM) for Oakland game Pitchers: Arizona — Shawn Estes, Edgar Gonzalez, Justin Wechsler, Bill Murphy, Shane Nance, Adam Peterson; Oakland — Dan Haren;
Arizona — Brad Halsey, Enrique Gonzalez, Brandon Medders, Casey Daigle, Jason Bulger, Phil Stockman; Milwaukee — Victor Santos Records: Arizona 6-5, Oakland 4-7, Milwaukee 7-4 Tickets: (866) 672-1343
AT A GLANCE
-
D-Backs 4, Padres 3
Notable pitching: Brandon Lyon got his first spring save with a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out two, both on sliders. . . . Brandon Webb threw first-pitch strikes to 11 of the 18 batters he faced. . . . Randy Choate retired the only batter he faced, lefty Dave Roberts. . . . Michael Gosling struck out two while giving up only one hit in two scoreless innings. Notable hitting: Alex Cintron had four hits, two doubles and drove in the first run of a three-run fourth inning. . . . Chris Snyder had two singles, driving in two to finish the fourth. . . . Jose Cruz Jr. had two hits, giving him five in the last three games. . . . Craig Counsell led off the game with a bunt single.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=37904
TUCSON - Right-hander Brandon Lyon had another dominating inning Saturday, earning his first spring save while positioning himself as a viable closing option in the unexpected chance that Greg Aquino’s elbow injury lingers.
Lyon struck out two of the three men he faced in the ninth inning of the Diamondbacks’ 4-3 victory over San Diego, both with sliders, and got the out on a line drive to first. He has struck out six of the nine men he has faced this spring.
"He’s been as impressive as any pitcher we’ve had in camp,’’ manager Bob Melvin said. "He’s the kind of guy who can get you a strikeout. He can get you a ground ball. He can get left-handers out.’’
Melvin said Lyon’s combination of sinking fastball, slider and curveball keeps hitters off balance.
"He can throw you sinkers. He can slip a curveball up there and see how you react to that, and save the slider and throw it to you when you haven’t even seen it,’’ Melvin said.
"Usually a reliever really only has time to establish two pitches. This guy has three, four with the change-up.’’
Aquino, who has not pitched since the spring opener March 3 because of a strained flexor mass in his right elbow, threw for 13 minutes in the bullpen Saturday morning before being examined again by team physician Michael Lee.
Pitching coach Mark Davis said Aquino’s mechanics improved as the session went on and may have contributed to his soreness. Aquino is to play long toss today. His next game appearance has not been scheduled.
SHADES OF THE PAST
Alex Cintron had four hits Saturday, two singles and two doubles, and while playing the whole game at third base made a backhanded stop and throw to take a hit away from Damian Jackson in the eighth.
"Alex is a good player. He just had a tough year last year,’’ Melvin said. "I think he is closer to the guy who put up numbers two years ago than last year.’’
Cintron hit .317 with 13 homers and 51 RBIs in 2003, becoming the everyday shortstop in the second half of the season, before slumping to .262 with four homers and 49 RBIs in 116 more at-bats last season.
"In the National League, you can’t understate what a guy like he can do for you,’’ Melvin said. "From the day he has gotten to camp, he has really been on a mission. He just makes our 25-man team that much stronger."
BACK IN SYNC
Rotation candidate Michael Gosling gave up a double to his first batter and hit his second in the sixth inning Saturday but retired the final six batters he faced in his two innings. He got out of a first-and-third, one-out situation in the top of the sixth inning by striking out Khalil Greene with a cut fastball and fielding a comebacker.
Gosling struck out Josh Barfield in the seventh with a curve.
"His curveball was better,’’ Melvin said.
Gosling said he focused on his mechanics, especially arm extension, and said, "If I do that, my stuff gets immeasurably better.’’
SHORT HOPS
Tony Pena, who pitched two innings against the Cubs on Friday, reported forearm tightness Saturday and was diagnosed with a flexor tendon strain in his right forearm, D-Backs trainer Paul Lessard said. "We’ll see how he is tomorrow and re-evaluate him,’’ Melvin said. . . .
First base coach Brett Butler worked with the full squad on sliding drills Saturday morning, and Melvin said he wants a team that will aggressively go into second base in force or double-play situations. . . .
The crowd of 10,852 was the largest at Tucson Electric Park this season.
ON DECK
-
D-Backs (ss) at Athletics
D-Backs (ss) at Brewers What: The D-Backs play split-squad games in the Valley for the only time this spring today, with manager Bob Melvin working the game against Oakland at Phoenix Municipal Stadium and bench coach Jay Bell handling the game against Milwaukee in Maryvale. Both games start at 1:05 p.m. TV/radio: None/KTAR (620 AM) for Oakland game Pitchers: Arizona — Shawn Estes, Edgar Gonzalez, Justin Wechsler, Bill Murphy, Shane Nance, Adam Peterson; Oakland — Dan Haren;
Arizona — Brad Halsey, Enrique Gonzalez, Brandon Medders, Casey Daigle, Jason Bulger, Phil Stockman; Milwaukee — Victor Santos Records: Arizona 6-5, Oakland 4-7, Milwaukee 7-4 Tickets: (866) 672-1343
AT A GLANCE
-
D-Backs 4, Padres 3
Notable pitching: Brandon Lyon got his first spring save with a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out two, both on sliders. . . . Brandon Webb threw first-pitch strikes to 11 of the 18 batters he faced. . . . Randy Choate retired the only batter he faced, lefty Dave Roberts. . . . Michael Gosling struck out two while giving up only one hit in two scoreless innings. Notable hitting: Alex Cintron had four hits, two doubles and drove in the first run of a three-run fourth inning. . . . Chris Snyder had two singles, driving in two to finish the fourth. . . . Jose Cruz Jr. had two hits, giving him five in the last three games. . . . Craig Counsell led off the game with a bunt single.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=37904
