Josh Collmenter shines as Arizona Diamondbacks defeat Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 – MLB Update
Josh Collmenter retired 21 batters on Monday, July 18, to guide Arizona Diamondbacks to a magnificent 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Chase Field.
Collmenter pitched right into the eighth inning to give the Diamondbacks this rare win.
With his 2.65 ERA this season in the 19 games that Collmenter has played, he was indeed beyond any hitter on Monday, attaining a culmination something rare to see in the pitchers. He brought about variety and pace in the pitches that gave him and his team
a wonderful victory.
"I think today was the culmination of everything that I can do as a pitcher," the rookie right-hander said. "I really had everything working, mixing it in and out. Henry (Blanco) behind the plate was great, moving in and out, up and down, changing speeds.
Just kept them off balance."
In all candour, Collmenter was faced with an equally fighting rival in the game. The Brewers’ Randy Wolf was fast and unplayable as well. The first half of the game, in effect, remained the starters’ dominated whereby the hitters failed to come up with something
different.
Himself keen and his pitches deceptive, Collmenter maintained his edge on the Brewers’ offence throughout the game. Wolf, with his 3.58 ERA this season in the 20 games that he has played, pitched strong innings as well.
“It's definitely good to get back on track on the last one before the (All-Star) break and now this one coming out of the break," he said, "and kind of give our rotation momentum as we kind of turn things over each time."
But things started falling apart for the Brewers when Gerardo Parra took on Wolf in the third inning. Parra grounded into a double play to score the first run in the 2-hit one-run third inning which gave the Diamondbacks an early 1-0 lead.
Collmenter, on the other hand, was keeping the pace faster and Arizona’s lead intact. He ended his sixth scoreless innings with fashion which was followed by the Diamondbacks’ offence sparking once again.
Ryan Roberts homered to left to drive in two valuable runs, tripling the Diamondbacks’ lead. Wolf was unable to contain the Diamondbacks’ offence as Roberts drove in two runs for the team, having taken the lead to 3-0.
Collmenter pitched the eighth inning with remarkable perfection, ending his magical spell of scoreless eight innings. Collmenter gave up three hits in the eight innings while Wolf allowed 8 hits and three runs.
David Hernandez pitched a shut-out ninth to formally turn the 3-0 lead into ultimate victory for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first of four-game series.
Tags: