Paul Goldschmidt and Co. Mash Their Way to Victory

Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

How sweet it feels to get a win.  After a hectic start in the desert, the Diamondbacks returned to some normalcy after beating up on long time villain Tim Lincecum in front of his home fans.

Winning by a score of 7-3, the damage was done early and often by the D-Backs, who were eager to jump all over the former Cy Young winner who’s stuff has decreased so exponentially over the past few seasons that he has even been demoted to the bullpen on occasion. 

Licking his chops at the potential matchup was Paul Goldschmidt.  Heading into the game with six career home runs off the quirky right-hander out of Washington, Goldy wasted no time reminding Lincecum who owned who in the pitcher-batter confrontation.  Before he had a chance to settle into the game, Goldschmidt took a huge hack and put the D-Backs ahead 3-0 before many got to their seats.

Thankfully, the rest of the Diamondbacks lineup got the memo to bring their lumber to the ballpark as well.  Flirting with the ever-elusive cycle, Gerardo Parra came within a double of the honor this evening.  With a triple in the first, a single in the third, and a home run in the fourth, Parra came to the plate twice more with the opportunity for history, but struck out and grounded out, respectively.

Even with Goldschmidt and Parra doing the majority of the heavy lifting, Eric Chavez took advantage of his first opportunity to start during the 2014 season.  His average may be sitting at a lackluster .100, but he found the fountain of youth on this evening, legging out a RBI triple.  The move to bat Chavez cleanup was a curious one at best with the way Mark Trumbo has been swinging the bat.

Known as an innings-eater in his former life with the Cincinnati Reds, Bronson Arroyo certainly is not used to hitting the showers after just the fifth inning.  For his second consecutive start, he has not seen the scoreboard tick to the sixth while he was on the hill. 

Had any Diamondback fan been told at the beginning of the game that only two pitchers would toe the slab for the D-Backs, they’d have been thrilled at the possibility of Arroyo pitching deep into the game.  The reality of the matter was the four-inning domination by Josh Collmenter.  Always known as the tweener between starter and long-relief, Collmenter provided a spectacular outing for a bullpen that has been scuffling to say the least.  Manager Kirk Gibson had ample opportunities to turn this game over to the backend of the bullpen, but he rode the hot hand, and it rewarded Collmenter with the first save of his career.

Oddly enough, the Giants bullpen was stout as well.  Lincecum incurred all the damage; surrendering seven runs over his four innings of work.  Whether it was a case of taking their foot off the pedal or not, the questionable middle relief of the Giants looked extremely effective against the Diamondback batters. 

Back at it late again tomorrow evening, Randall Delgado will take to the mound, looking to rebound from his last start out against the Rockies.  The Giants will send former reclamation project Ryan Vogelsong to the hill, attempting to rekindle his flame he discovered in 2012.  Getting underway at 7:15 P.M. from AT&T Park, tune in as the Diamondbacks go for the much-needed series win on the road.