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Arizona Diamondbacks Honor Senator John McCain Before Sunday’s Win

By Casey Pazzalia

PHOENIX, AZ - AUGUST 26: A moment of silence is observed to honor the passing of Arizona senator, John McCain prior to the MLB game between the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on August 26, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. McCain died on August 25 after battling Glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - AUGUST 26: A moment of silence is observed to honor the passing of Arizona senator, John McCain prior to the MLB game between the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on August 26, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. McCain died on August 25 after battling Glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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The Arizona Diamondbacks honored Senator John McCain and managed to avoid a three-game sweep on Sunday against the Seattle Mariners.

Always a regular at Arizona sporting events, U.S Senator John McCain was honored by the Arizona Diamondbacks before Sunday’s game with a moment of silence. McCain, who was the Republican nominee in the 2008 U.S Election, passed away on Saturday after a long battle with cancer.

In another moving gesture, the team hung a No. 18 jersey with ‘McCain’ on the back in their dugout.

Additionally, the Diamondbacks won Sunday’s game 5-2 to avoid a three-game sweep versus the Seattle Mariners. Offensively, Paul Goldschmidt hit his 30th home run of the season in the third inning and catcher Jeff Mathis added a team-best two hits. Starting pitcher Zack Greinke scattered five hits over 6.2 innings, earning his 13th win of the season. Greinke also pitched in with the bat, picking up his 13th hit of the season.

McCain was an Arizona staple, serving over three decades as a U.S Senator from Arizona (1987-2018). And with that, he was a staple in the state’s sports scene. Whether it be his longtime friendship with Arizona Cardinals’ wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald or his first pitch at Game 7 of the 2001 World Series between the Diamondbacks and Yankees, he legitimately cared and cheered for his state’s teams.

Speaking about McCain’s passing on KTAR News 92.3, Derrick Hall, the Diamondbacks’ team president and CEO, said the Purple Heart recipient “was a Diamondback.”

Hall continued by detailing how deep his love for the D-Backs ran.

Per Arizona Sports 98.7:

"“He knew not only our major league roster — guys, he knew our minor league prospects,” Hall said. “He always knew as much as anybody did, the depth of knowledge was so impressive.”..“There’s just these legendary stories of him staying up til 2, 3 in the morning, watching our games, going into extra innings,” Hall said."

Several Diamondbacks also spoke glowingly about the “maverick”, including Luis Gonzalez, who called McCain a “dear friend.”

Former D-Backs OF Eric Byrnes is Doing a Triathlon Across America. light. Read

Gonzalez, echoing Hall’s comments, said the team could also count on McCain to root for them “from the ballpark, from his home and from all the way across the country.”

The Diamondbacks will begin a six-game, NL West road trip at San Francisco and Los Angeles on Monday.

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