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Home , Alex Cabrera, Bradin Hagens, Brent Clevlen, Brent Lillibridge, Daron Sutton, Didi Gregorius

April 19, 2013

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http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/mlb/arizona- diamondbacks/story/Good-day-for-Gregorius-better-day-for- fa?blockID=893935&feedID=4677 Cody clutch: Ross lifts D-backs in 12th Corbin gets no-decision vs. hometown club; Gregorius hits first homer By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com Having a ball: Fan catches 2 homers at single game http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2 By Associated Press / ArizonaSports.com 013_04_18_arimlb_nyamlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=ari http://arizonasports.com/42/1628196/Having-a-ball-Fan-catches-2- homers-at-single-game

Gregorius can't suppress smiles after first homer Prospect becomes seventh D-back to homer in first at-bat with team Grit Index: D-backs score four runs in the 12th to defeat By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com the Yankees http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2013041 By Daria Del Colliano / ArizonaSports.com 9&content_id=45202568&vkey=news_ari&c_id=ari http://arizonasports.com/42/1628186/Grit-Index-Dbacks-score-four- runs-in-the-12th-inning-to-defeat-the-Yankees

NL West to heat up as D-backs visit Rox By Cash Kruth / MLB.com Cervelli forces extras, but Phelps falls apart in 12th http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2 By: Daniel Pfeiffer / The Examiner 013_04_19_arimlb_colmlb_1&mode=preview http://www.examiner.com/article/cervelli-forces-extras-but-phelps- falls-apart-12th

Overbay enjoying his time with Yankees By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com Dbacks TV duo getting to know one another in the booth http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2013041 By Eric Sorenson / Pros2Preps.com 8&content_id=45162084¬ebook_id=45162090&vkey=notebook_a http://www.pros2preps.com/2013/04/dbacks-tv-duo-getting-to-know- ri&c_id=ari one-another-in-the-booth/

Arizona Diamondbacks' Didi Gregorius hits , home in big debut By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic Rapid Reaction: D-Backs 6, Yankees 2 (12) http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/20130418ari By Andrew Marchand / ESPNNewYork.com zona-diamondbacks-didi-gregorius-hits-double-home-run-in-big- http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/52976/rapid- debut.html reaction-d-backs-6-yankees-2-12 break game open in 12th inning, defeat Yankees Diamondbacks have grit ... and talent By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic By David Schoenfield / ESPN.com http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/20130418ari http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/35010/diamondbacks- zona-diamondbacks-break-game-open-in-th-inning-defeat-new-york- have-grit-and-talent yankees.html#protected

Diamondbacks-Rockies Preview Disabled list: Where aches, pains don’t come cheap By Associated Press / ESPN.com By Bob McManaman / The Arizona Republic http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=330419127 http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/20130418dis abled-list-where-aches-pains-dont-come-cheap.html D-Backs Rally in 12th Inning to Beat Yankees By Dave Caldwell / The Wall Street Journal Cahill’s cutter; Pollock’s comfort level; & other stuff http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142412788732449370457843154 By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic 2704592104.html http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/nickpiecoro/2013/04/19/cahills- cutter-pollocks-comfort-level-other-stuff/ Prospect of the Day: A.J. Pollock, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks By John Sickels / SB Nation Kennedy, D-backs visit streaking Rockies http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/4/19/4240256/prospect-of- By Associated Press / FOXSportsArizona.com the-day-a-j-pollock-of-arizona-diamondbacks http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/mlb/arizona- diamondbacks/story/Kennedy-D-backs-visit-streaking- Rockies?blockID=893945&feedID=3563 Phoenix Sports Teams Look To Mexico For Fans By Jude Joffe-Block / FronterasDesk.org http://www.fronterasdesk.org/news/2013/apr/18/phoenix-sports- D-backs score four runs in 12th, avoid sweep teams-look-fans-mexico/ By Associated Press / FOXSportsArizona.com http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/mlb/arizona- diamondbacks/story/D-backs-score-four-runs-in-12th-avoid- sw?blockID=893911&feedID=3563 Aces Fall to Sky Sox, 4-2 By Good day for Gregorius, better day for fan http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130419&content_id=4 By Fox Sports Arizona / FOXSportsArizona.com 5203520&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t2310&sid=t2310 2

Aces celebrate National Animal Cracker Day By Reno Aces http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130418&content_id=4 5193024&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t2310&sid=t2310

BayBears Outlast Biscuits 8-4 in 13 Clevlen and Weber Lead Offense With 3 RBI Each By Craig Durham / Mobile BayBears http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130419&content_id=4 5204718&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t417&sid=t417

Mobile BayBears break through in 13th inning against Montgomery Biscuits By Mark Inabinett / AL.com http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/04/mobile_baybears_break _through.html

Rawhide Rally In The 9th To Win 3-2 Kerry Jenkins delivered a walk-off single to put 'Hide in win column By Josh Jackson / http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130418&content_id=4 5182316&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t516

April 19, 2013 • MLB.com http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_index.jsp

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The D-backs turned things over to J.J. Putz in the ninth, and after retiring the first hitter of the inning, Putz hung a split-finger to Francisco Cervelli, who it into the seats in left to tie the Cody clutch: Ross lifts D-backs in 12th game. Corbin gets no-decision vs. hometown club; Gregorius hits first homer By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com "It was a split that didn't do anything, so basically a BP fastball," Putz http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2 said. "I had the right idea, right thought process. I wanted to bounce it. 013_04_18_arimlb_nyamlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=ari It just didn't go down."

NEW YORK -- When the D-backs signed as a free agent Said Cervelli, "The homer right now doesn't mean anything, because we during the offseason, one of the reasons they cited was his ability to lost the game. I don't care if I hit three homers and we lost. I'm not deliver in the clutch. happy."

On Thursday night at , Ross did just that as his RBI Gerardo Parra started the winning rally with a double to lead off the single started a four-run 12th-inning rally as the D-backs avoided a 12th against David Phelps. Parra came to the plate with just six hits in sweep and beat the Yankees, 6-2. his previous 41 at-bats.

"I don't know. I guess I concentrate a little bit more, focus a little bit After the D-backs loaded the bases, Ross lined a single to left to score more when the game is on the line," Ross said. "I was telling somebody Parra, and Eric Chavez followed with a three-run double to right-center earlier that maybe I should act like it's the ninth inning in the first to pad the lead. inning and have that approach, but it's a feel thing. You start off in the game trying to get a feel for things, see some pitches and then once the "[ Kirk Gibson] has always told us to play hard no matter game is on the line, you bear down a little bit more and focus." what," said reliever Heath Bell, who worked a scoreless 11th. "Unfortunately, in the first two games, we kind of let it slip by us, but It didn't seem like the game would be on the line in the 12th, because it we didn't give up. Even though they tied the game, we just kept looked like the D-backs would have this thing wrapped up in nine. grinding. That's what we do. We go out there and play hard every single out we have. You could see it. We just didn't give up." Left-hander , who grew up in central New York rooting for the Yankees, tossed a masterful seven . Gregorius can't suppress smiles after first homer Prospect becomes seventh D-back to homer in first at-bat with team The 23-year-old allowed just a pair of hits and walked three while By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com striking out seven much to the delight of a large contingent of friends http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2013041 and family, who were in the stands. 9&content_id=45202568&vkey=news_ari&c_id=ari

"It's a day I'll never forget," Corbin said. "Just to be here with my NEW YORK -- Didi Gregorius tried to keep his emotions in check as family, all my friends here getting to see me play, it was awesome. To he rounded the bases. have the chance to pitch here is just amazing. I felt good and had really good fastball command and my today was good." He did a good job of it until he got between second and third. That's when a giant smile took over his face. Didi Gregorius, who was acquired from the Reds in a three-team deal last winter and was activated from the disabled list Tuesday, gave "I was really happy rounding the bases," Gregorius said. "At first I was Corbin an early lead when he led off the third inning with a trying not to smile, but then I smiled anyway." to right on the first pitch he saw from . It was Gregorius' first at-bat in a D-backs uniform. No one will begrudge Gregorius the his joy at hitting his first big league homer in his first at-bat as a D-back. While it was not his first Major Gregorius became the seventh player to homer in his first at-bat with League at-bat -- he had 20 at-bats for the Reds last year -- it took place the D-backs, joining Alex Cabrera, Bobby Estalella, Jose Cruz Jr., Felipe in Yankee Stadium, a place he said he always dreamed of playing. Lopez, Gerardo Parra and John Hester. He is the first of the group to do it on the first pitch. The D-backs acquired Gregorius last December from the Reds in a three-team deal that sent pitching prospect to Cleveland. "It's been a dream to play here," the 23-year-old said. "It's every kid's dream to be able to play in this stadium. I got a chance and I hit a home Two weeks after the , Gregorius, the D-backs' No. 3 prospect and run, too. It was really exciting for me." No. 63 overall prospect according to MLB.com, injured his elbow playing catch and he did not begin throwing a baseball again until Gregorius flashed a big smile as he rounded third and he was asked was well underway. The plan was to take things slowly what was going through his mind. with Gregorius and he was probably going to stay with -A Reno at the end of his injury rehab assignment. "'I can't believe I just hit a home run,'" he thought. "I was really happy rounding the bases. At first, I was trying not to smile, but then I smiled But when was lost for four to six weeks anyway." with a broken hand, the D-backs activated Gregorius and he made his first start on Thursday. Arizona increased its lead to 2-0 when Martin Prado led off the sixth with a home run. Not only did Gregorius hit a homer in his first at-bat, he did so on the first pitch he saw from Phil Hughes. The Yankees cut the lead in half in the sixth when Robinson Cano hit an 0-1 pitch into the home in right-center. "I am, let's put it this way, a little bit aggressive at the plate," Gregorius said. "I try to be patient, too, sometimes. He threw me a first-pitch fastball. I saw he was throwing first-pitch to everybody, so I decided why not take a swing at it?" 4

"He's got pull power," Gibson said. "He's pretty aggressive at the plate, Gregorius became the seventh player to homer in his first at-bat with but he battles. He sees the righties really well. He said he doesn't see the D-backs, joining Alex Cabrera, Bobby Estalella, Jose Cruz Jr., Felipe lefties as well and we told him to make a little adjustment, open up a Lopez, Gerardo Parra and John Hester. He is the first of the group to little bit and get your eyes squared to the , and it's helped him a do it on the first pitch. lot."

Gregorius' homer was caught by a fan wearing a D-backs hat and shirt. Rockies: CarGo swinging hot bat • Carlos Gonzalez continued his hot hitting Thursday, going Following the game, Gregorius met with the fan and traded a signed 3-for-5 against the Mets for his eighth multihit game of the season. He baseball for the home-run ball. also extended his hitting streak to four games, during which he's batting .600 (12-for-20) with four doubles, a triple and a home run. NL West to heat up as D-backs visit Rox By Cash Kruth / MLB.com Gonzalez's next homer will be his 100th with the Rockies. http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2 013_04_19_arimlb_colmlb_1&mode=preview • First baseman Todd Helton is tied with Ivan Rodriguez for 21st on 's all-time doubles list. The frigid, snowy weather is hopefully a thing of the past for the Rockies this season. • Yorvit Torrealba needs two hits for 700 in his career.

After getting postponed Monday and Wednesday and dealing with chilly • Wednesday's postponed game against the Mets will be played at 4:10 temperatures in games they did play this week, the Rockies welcome the p.m. MT on June 27 at Coors Field. D-backs and warmer weather to Coors Field for a weekend series. Worth noting Game-time temperature was 28 degrees in Colorado's 11-3 win against • D-backs hitting coach Don Baylor, who was the Rockies' first the Mets on Thursday. It's expected to be more than 20 degrees higher manager from 1993-98, was scheduled to be inducted into the Colorado for Friday's opener, with a projected high of 52 in Denver, according to Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday night. weather.com. • Chacin is riding a three-game winning streak at Coors Field. This series marks the first games between the West foes this season after they played fairly evenly a year ago, with the D- • Colorado's Dexter Fowler (.292, 7-for-24) and Helton (.316, 6-for-19) backs taking 10 of 18 matchups. have had success in their careers against Kennedy.

The Rockies should be in good position to take Friday's opener and Overbay enjoying his time with Yankees extend their six-game winning streak with Jhoulys Chacin on the By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com mound. The right-hander has pitched well against the D-backs of late -- http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2013041 allowing three earned runs or fewer in six of his past seven starts -- and 8&content_id=45162084¬ebook_id=45162090&vkey=notebook_a is 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) against Arizona. ri&c_id=ari

Current D-backs hitters are batting only .211 against Chacin. NEW YORK -- Former D-backs first baseman Lyle Overbay does not know how long his time with the Yankees will last, but he plans on Chacin's counterpart, right-hander Ian Kennedy, also has past success enjoying it. against his opponent. Kennedy has a 2.71 ERA in 12 starts against the Rockies, including a 3.19 mark in five starts at Coors Field. Overbay, who played with the D-backs for the final two months of the 2011 season and the first four months of the '12 season, was signed by Kennedy is coming off a start against the Dodgers that he deemed the Yankees as a free agent toward the end of Spring Training. "unacceptable," allowing six runs in 5 2/3 innings. Before the D-backs finished their series with a 6-2 win against the Yankees on Thursday The Yankees needed some help at first base after losing night, Kennedy left New York separately, in order to make sure he is to injury. well rested for his outing. Teixeira is hoping to return at the beginning of May, but a more realistic "Hope it works," manager Kirk Gibson said. "The altitude has some timetable is probably mid-May. effect on some guys. Maybe he gets a better night's sleep. I tend not to sleep my first night there. We'll get in late, it's going to be cold there and "Not a lot of people get to do that, so I want to just soak it all in," stuff." Overbay said of wearing the Yankees pinstripes.

D-backs: Goldschmidt's strong start Overbay was hitting .279 with one home run and six RBIs heading into • First baseman went 3-for-5 on Thursday and has Thursday's game. The Yankees are the sixth team Overbay has played reached safely in all 15 games to start the season, tying teammate Miguel with in his career. Montero for the fourth-longest streak to open a season in franchise history. Luis Gonzalez set the record in 1999, when he reached base "When I was looking over here when I was on the other teams, and I safely in his first 35 games. was a little jealous, because, I mean, it's the ," Overbay said. "There's so much history. They've got so many • Didi Gregorius began his D-backs career with a bang on championships and everything. Now you look at those guys over on the Thursday night at Yankee Stadium, leading off the third inning with a other side where they've got that look too where they're a little jealous. home run off Phil Hughes. He later doubled and finished 2-for-5. The And I'm like, yeah. You can kind of stand a little higher. It's an honor to D-backs acquired Gregorius from the Reds this winter as part of the be able to put the pinstripes on and be a part of it." three-team trade that sent pitcher Trevor Bauer to the Indians.

Kennedy catches early flight to get good night sleep 5

NEW YORK -- How fitting: Didi Gregorius, who was famously NEW YORK -- Ian Kennedy left for Denver ahead of his teammates, compared by Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers to with his commercial flight scheduled to leave before Thursday's night Yankees star , had quite the Diamondbacks’ debut at, of all game with the Yankees started. places, Yankee Stadium on Thursday night.

The D-backs have a night game in Denver on Friday and are likely to Gregorius homered on the first pitch he saw from Yankees right-hander arrive in the Mile High city sometime in the wee hours of the morning. Phil Hughes, breaking into a huge smile as he rounded the bases. So with Kennedy starting, the team wanted to make sure he got a good night's sleep. “It’s every kid’s dream to be able to play in this stadium,” Gregorius said. “I got a chance and I hit a home run, too. It was really exciting for "Hope it works," manager Kirk Gibson said. "The altitude has some me.” effect on some guys. Maybe he gets a better night sleep. I tend not to sleep my first night there. We'll get in late, it's going to be cold there and Gregorius added a double in his next at-bat and played well defensively stuff." at shortstop, showing off his strong throwing arm on a ground ball in the ninth inning. Flying the next day's pitcher ahead of the team if there's a late game is a common practice on some teams, but it's not something the D-backs As for the home run, Gregorius said he was aggressive for a reason have done under Gibson. Maybe that changes if Kennedy pitches well against Hughes. Friday. “I am, let’s put it this way, a little bit aggressive at the plate,” Gregorius "Usually we don't do that," Gibson said. "It will be on a case-by-case said. “I try to be patient, too, sometimes. He threw me a first-pitch basis. I told Ian there's a lot of pressure on him." fastball. I saw he was throwing first-pitch fastballs to everybody, so I decided why not take a swing at it?”

Snake bites Gregorius couldn’t help but smile.

• The D-backs have had three off-days so far this season, and Gibson “I was really happy rounding the bases,” he said. “At first I was trying has elected to keep his in rotation rather than skipping his fifth not to smile, but then I smiled anyway.” starter and keeping everyone on regular rest. After the game, Gregorius retrieved the home-run ball as a keepsake Gibson figures the extra rest for the starters will come in handy as the from the fan who caught it. Gregorius said he signed a different ball and season wears on and days off become scarce. made the trade.

"It certainly doesn't hurt to have extra time," Gibson said. "At some Given that Gregorius is returning from an elbow injury, manager Kirk point we're going to get into it and guys are going to be taxed." Gibson said he plans to ease him back into action. That likely means he won’t be in the lineup Friday night at Coors Field. • A point of emphasis for Gibson this spring has been for the players not to try and do too much on defense and make a spectacular play that It’s all mental could find up leading to a throwing . Take the routine out and minimize the damage is what he's preached, and he has been pleased Gibson deployed one of his favorite lines when asked about the with the results. anticipated cold weather this weekend in Denver. He said his players will just have to “deal with it.” "We haven't tried to make a play that really isn't there," Gibson said. Temperatures are expected to be in the 40s for games Friday night and • The D-backs have had some significant injuries so far this year, and Saturday. It was chilly on Thursday night in New York, too. Gibson was asked if he was worried about them impacting the team. “A lot of it I think is in your mind,” Gibson said. “I remember in 2007 "I don't worry about it, they are," Gibson said. "We've lost a lot of we were in Washington and it was 30 degrees and I told (then-manager) impact guys. That's just the reality of it. We've gotten much younger. Bob (Melvin), ‘We’ve got to go out there and (take batting practice) We're asking people to do stuff that maybe we didn't envision them every day. We’ll have a mental edge on the Nationals.’ having to do." “We did. We swept them. It was cold. Is it ideal? If you could (dictate) • Shortstop Didi Gregorius, acquired from the Reds in a three-team deal the temperature every day would you put 32 or 28? No, you wouldn’t. this winter, made his D-backs debut Thursday night. But it’s all part of the challenge.”

"He's got pull power," Gibson said. "He's pretty aggressive at the plate, Taking the ball but he battles. He sees the righties really well. He said he doesn't see lefties as well and we told him to make a little adjustment, open up a Reliever set career highs in appearance (77) and innings little bit and get your eyes squared to the pitcher, and it's helped him a pitched (68 2/3) last season, and he’s off to a fast start this year, having lot." appeared in 10 of the first 14 games.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Didi Gregorius hits double, home run in Ziegler said he has felt no ill-effects from all those appearances last big debut season, noting that his velocity is up from April of 2012. And he said he By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic hasn’t felt any extra soreness after his appearances this year. http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/20130418ari zona-diamondbacks-didi-gregorius-hits-double-home-run-in-big- Arizona Diamondbacks break game open in 12th inning, defeat debut.html New York Yankees By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic

6 http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/20130418ari zona-diamondbacks-break-game-open-in-th-inning-defeat-new-york- Recap: Cody Ross’ RBI single snapped a 12th-inning tie and Eric yankees.html#protected Chavez’s three-run double broke it open as the Diamondbacks avoided a sweep at Yankee Stadium. NEW YORK — Given all that happened on Thursday night — the lack of situational hitting, the runners stranded, the blown — and Impressive again: Left-hander Pat Corbin gave up just one run on two given the unsightly events of the previous two nights, the hits and three walks in seven innings, striking out seven. In three starts, Diamondbacks weren’t about to break down the aesthetic qualities of Corbin has allowed just three runs in 19 innings for a 1.42 ERA. The their 6-2, 12-inning win at Yankee Stadium. Yankees’ only run off Corbin came on a solo home run by Robinson Cano in the sixth inning. They just tucked the victory under their arm, grabbed their bags and bolted town. This is what they mean they talk about teams “salvaging” “I felt good and had really good fastball command and my slider today the final game of a series. was good,” Corbin said. “Miggy ( ) called a good game and we had a good game plan. I think the one bad pitch was just “We didn’t execute as good as we’d have liked up to that point, but they the hanging breaking ball to Cano.” hung in there,” manager Kirk Gibson said. “We bonded together and got the job done.” Corbin, who grew up outside of Syracuse, N.Y., said the experience of pitching in his home state last season — his second career start came Cody Ross’ RBI single snapped a 2-2 tie in the 12th, and Eric Chavez against the Mets at — helped as he faced his childhood team. followed with a bases-clearing double to break it open, giving them another extra-inning win on a getaway day, their third such victory “I think last year when I was playing the Mets I had nerves a little bit,” already this season. he said. “But this time, I went out there and stayed relaxed and don’t do too much, just attack these guys and go after them and that’s what I felt A lot could be forgotten amid the hubbub of the night’s late-game like I did tonight.” drama. There was left-hander Pat Corbin’s seven strong innings, his third consecutive dominant start to open the season. There was the Hernandez recovers: Right-hander David Hernandez, who gave up the thrilling opening to shortstop Didi Gregorius’ Diamondbacks career, go-ahead home run to Travis Hafner on Wednesday night, pitched out which began with a home run on the first pitch he saw. And there was a of a jam on Thursday night in the eighth inning. home run from Martin Prado, his third with his new club. Protecting a 2-1 lead with the bases loaded and Cano at the plate, But those storylines were relegated to footnotes in the ninth inning, Hernandez threw a slider that hit Cano’s leg and for a moment when Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli slammed a hanging splitter appeared to force home the tying run. However, home-plate umpire from Diamondbacks closer J.J. Putz and sent it just beyond the left-field Ron Kulpa ruled that Cano offered at the pitch and rung him up for wall — and, strangely, into the hands of the same fan who caught Strike 3. Gregorius’ homer in the third inning. (Even stranger, that fan was in right field for Gregorius’ shot before moving to left later in the game.) “I saw him raise his hands and I just was hoping that they would call the swing,” Hernandez said. “I really couldn’t hear. It was loud. I’m happy I After the Diamondbacks blew leads and eventually lost each of the first got that call. two games of this series, it felt like they were about to make it three in a row. “After last night, you just don’t want to repeat the same thing over and over. I made some good pitches, those are some good quality hitters “Gibby has always told us to play hard no matter what,” reliever Heath and I’ll try not to make it that hard next time.” Bell said. “Unfortunately, in the first two games, we kind of let it slip by us. But we didn’t give up. Even though they tied the game, we just kept View from the press box: always has had a knack for grinding. That’s what we do. We go out there and play hard every single getting on base, a skill evidenced by his career .385 on-base percentage. out we have. You could see it. We just didn’t give up.” But Youkilis’ skills aren’t limited to getting hits and drawing walks. With two strikes on him in the eighth inning, he noticed a Hernandez slider They had plenty of chances to put the game away. They had men on was spinning up and in, and instead of getting out of the way, Youkilis second and third and one out in the fifth. They had second and third, tried to lean into it. The ball didn’t hit him, but that’s a hard-nosed nobody out, in the sixth. They wasted a leadoff double in the 11th. move from a veteran player.

Finally, in the 12th, they capitalized. With the bases loaded and one out, Disabled list: Where aches, pains don’t come cheap Cody Ross came the plate in just the kind of situation the By Bob McManaman / The Arizona Republic Diamondbacks had envisioned when they signed him. Known for http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/20130418dis coming through in clutch situations, Ross did just that, lining an RBI abled-list-where-aches-pains-dont-come-cheap.html single to left off Yankees reliever David Phelps. It’s still only April, and Major League Baseball’s disabled list is already “I don’t know, I guess I concentrate a little bit more, focus a little bit one crowded place to be. more when the game is on the line,” Ross said. “I was telling somebody earlier that maybe I should act like it’s the ninth inning in the first Diamondbacks second baseman Aaron Hill became the 129th player to inning and have that approach.” join the active disabled list earlier this week when a CT scan revealed a surface break on the top of his left hand. Chavez followed by driving a ball over center fielder ’s head for a three-run double, and the Diamondbacks were off to Some of the biggest names in the game are right there with him, such as Denver, where they were expecting to arrive in town sometime after 4 Boston’s (sore Achilles’), Toronto’s Jose Reyes (sprained a.m. and open a three-game series against the Rockies Friday night. ankle) and the Mets’ (season-ending shoulder surgery).

Report But don’t forget about the Dodgers’ Zack Greinke (broken collarbone) and Hanley Ramirez (torn thumb ligaments), the Angels’ Jered Weaver 7

(fractured elbow) or the Yankees’ Derek Jeter (ankle surgery), Mark Teixeira (strained wrist), (fractured forearm) and That doesn’t stop players from grinding through aches and pains that (hip surgery). sometimes are actually undetected injuries. That’s what happened last season to Diamondbacks shortstop Cliff Pennington when he was with Even more eye-popping than the names are the financial repercussions the Oakland A’s. that come from all the time spent on the dreaded DL. According to research by the website FanGraphs, it costs baseball close to $500 He kept feeling a pinch near his elbow, but played through it for nearly million a year in salary paid to players on the disabled list, plus a month, taking occasional cortisone injections to ease the pain. replacement-player salaries. “But it just wasn’t working,” he said. “I wasn’t playing good because of Add that average up over, say, just the past five seasons, and $2.5 billion it. I couldn’t swing. I mean, I wasn’t hitting at all.” clearly ought to get your attention. Pennington knew he probably should have shut it down sooner, but the “Billion? You mean with a B?” a stunned Hill said last week, while still thought of missing two weeks gnawed at his competitive nature. trying to play through his hand injury. “That’s crazy. “Two weeks is 14 games. That’s 45 or 50 at-bats,” he said. “I mean, you always think you’re going to be healthy. You expect to play 155 games. You don’t expect to go out there and get hurt — or get Is it the right call? hit (by a pitch) like I did.” Knowing when to play through pain and when to seek shelter from a The Diamondbacks already have had seven players go on the disabled DL assignment is a fine line for a player to walk. list, which is severely testing their depth. And when that happens to a team, it’s only natural for players with nagging injuries to try to play “You ask any guy who’s a competitor — which most guys are — how through the pain and be less honest with medical staff. they’re feeling and they’ll say, ‘Hey, I’m ready to go,’ ” Hill said. “They may tell you they’re not 100 percent, but if you ask them if they can “Yeah, you don’t want to be seen in the trainer’s room all the time,” play, they’ll say, ‘Yeah, I can play.’ Diamondbacks outfielder Jason Kubel said last week. “That’s why it’s been tough the last couple days for me. It’s not fun; you want to be out “I always want to play, but at the same time, that competitiveness can there.” get you into a lot of trouble.”

Kubel dealt with left knee and ankle issues in spring training and A pitcher might alter his mechanics in order to adjust to a nagging pain. suffered a quadriceps injury to the same leg while rounding third base A hitter could change his swing to compensate for soreness. A foot, leg during a game at . or back problem can make a player run the bases unnaturally.

“My leg’s a mess right now,” he said. “The bottom line is you end up playing a different way,” Hill said, “and you end up digging yourself a hole. Then it’s hard to play catch-up.” The next day, he was placed on the disabled list. There are some players, Hill agrees, that welcome a call to the disabled Don’t wanna go list over others. It doesn’t mean they aren’t tough. Some players just don’t want to tempt fate or play with fire. Some players are reluctant to go on the DL, as was the case earlier this season with Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman. He suffered a “Yeah, there’s the other side of that, too,” he said. “I’d say there are strained right oblique during workouts a day before the season started, more guys on the flip side, guys that want to be in there every day. Of but was batting .417 with seven RBIs through his first five games. course, there’s guys that are a little more on that side, but that’s not a bad thing because they’re protecting their body, and it’s probably more When he learned he had been put on the DL, he went bonkers. The for the team than anything. Braves, he said, never informed him of the decision. “For some reason, it gets looked down upon at times because of the “They didn’t even give me a choice,” Freeman told reporters. “It’s my whole ‘get tough, get out there’ thing. But it’s a fine line because there career. I should be able to make that decision. are positives and negatives to both sides.”

“It’s not hurt to the point where I can’t play. I can play just fine. At This much is certain: Baseball’s disabled list is a busy place these days. least talk to me about it. You can’t make a decision without me knowing.” Cahill’s cutter; Pollock’s comfort level; & other stuff By Nick Piecoro / The Arizona Republic Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers said it’s been on very http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/nickpiecoro/2013/04/19/cahills- rare occasions that a player has disagreed with him about a DL move. cutter-pollocks-comfort-level-other-stuff/

He said the player is always afforded a part in the discussion but that Trevor Cahill, known for his darting two-seam fastball, has always liked “ultimately, the final decision is ours.” to joke that he has “the worst slider in the big leagues.”

“It’s like with Kubel; I don’t think he wanted to go on,” Towers said. Whether or not he throws a slider anymore is really a matter of “But we told him, ‘Look, having you at 60, 70 percent isn’t going to semantics, but whatever you want to call it, it’s no longer the butt any work. It’s just not going to go away, so it’s best for you to take the two jokes. In fact, this pitch of his is a weapon — and it might be something weeks and be off, and you should be fine and we can put it behind us.’ ” that eventually will redefine what Cahill is all about as a pitcher.

In many cases, teams have to protect players from themselves, even if it Cahill is throwing a cutter these days — has been with some frequency adds up to costly dollars lost to DL time. since midway through last season – and while cutters and sliders come from the same pitch-type family tree, it sounds as if Cahill’s pitch is 8 clearly more cutter than slider. He grips it differently than his slider and throws it more like a fastball. “I think as you watch him more and more, he does a lot of things pretty good,” Towers said. “Before, I was sinkers and change-ups and then the big ,” Cahill said. “I just wanted something that was hard – even if it stayed “For me, he’s one of those guys when he’s in the lineup, you feel good. straight — so that it didn’t do the same thing as all my other pitches. I You think he’s going to do something – kind of like (Adam) Eaton – still think it’s kind of like a hard slider, but I say cutter because it makes there’s something tonight that he’s going to do, either offensively or me not try to make it swoopy.” defensively, that’s going to help the club.”

He mentioned three key things that the pitch does for him: ***

First, it’s acts differently than his two-seamer and his change-up, both Evan Drellich on the Jeff Allison saga. of which tail down and away from a left-handed hitter. *** Second, he thinks it keeps him from having to be so fine with his sinker. That is, if he believes a hitter is anticipating a sinker on a particular David Wondrich with a nice personal history of . pitch, Cahill feels compelled to locate it perfectly. But if a hitter doesn’t know what kind of fastball he’ll be getting, Cahill’s more comfortable *** just letting the sinker loose and allowing the movement to take over. Deep thoughts about Jack Handey’s Deep Thoughts, by Kathleen Third, he thinks it’s had a tangential effect on his rate. If Cahill Rooney. can get to two strikes with sinkers and cutters, he still has his change-up and curveball waiting to be used, pitches a hitter has yet to see. ***

Cahill’s progression with the cutter mirrors his usage of it. He said he This is Get Lucky by Daft Punk. first switched to more of a four-seam grip on June 9 of last season in a start against the Oakland A’s. He went from throwing the pitch 11 Kennedy, D-backs visit streaking Rockies percent of the time last season to 23 percent through three starts this By Associated Press / FOXSportsArizona.com year, according to Brooks Baseball. http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/mlb/arizona- diamondbacks/story/Kennedy-D-backs-visit-streaking- “I guess it’s getting better as I throw it more, like anything else,” he said. Rockies?blockID=893945&feedID=3563 “I think it’s just a different look, a ball going the other way. While the weather in Denver has been frigid of late, Colorado has been “It’s the same thing that Brandon (McCarthy) did, the way he red hot. The surging Rockies will try to extend the best home start in reinvented himself off of (Roy) Halladay. Sinkers and cutters. The franchise history Friday night when they open a three-game set against harder the cutter is, the sooner the hitter has to commit to it.” the Diamondbacks.

Cahill’s cutters mostly register in the 86-88 mph range, a couple of ticks After a pair of games were postponed due to heavy snow, the Rockies slower than his two-seam fastball. (11-4) completed a shortened three-game sweep of the Mets with Thursday's 11-3 victory. Dexter Fowler, and Josh (Hat tip to Chris Cwik for alerting me of Cahill’s increased usage.) Rutledge all went deep for the Rockies, who tied the franchise record for lowest temperature to start a home game at 28 degrees. *** Colorado collected a season-high 17 hits in improving to 6-0 on its own So this note seemed a little more appropriate before tonight’s game, field for the first time. when A.J. Pollock was hitting .308, than it does now, after his 0 for 6 drops his average to .267. The curse of the small sample size. The Rockies have also put together a six-game winning streak overall, their longest since winning seven straight April 9-15, 2011. Besides But the point still remains: Pollock said he feels a lot more comfortable going 23 for 62 (.371) with runners in scoring position, Colorado has in the majors this year than he did last season, when he hit .247 in 81 at- scored 46 runs and allowed just 49 hits during its run. bats. "We were able to create situations with a lot of runners on base and “Sometimes I was trying to do too much,” he said. “Sometimes I was take advantage of the opportunities," said Carlos Gonzalez, who went 3 maybe trying to show them I belong here. Now I’m just kind of playing for 5 to raise his average to .400. "We've got to continue to play this my game.” way against whoever comes to our ballpark."

And his game is solid – there’s really no better word. Pollock doesn’t have great power. He’s not a burner. He doesn’t have the best arm. He Gonzalez has been especially locked in over the last four games, going doesn’t have any unworldly ability to square the ball up. He just does 11 for 17 with a homer and nine runs scored. The slugging left fielder is everything well – or at least average. So while there’s no standout batting .415 with nine homers, 29 runs and 20 RBIs over his last 27 strengths, there’s no weaknesses, either. home games against the Diamondbacks.

GM Kevin Towers said there are teams that often inquire with him Gonzalez, though, is just 4 for 23 with nine against Friday's about Pollock’s availability and there are others who never ask about scheduled starter, Ian Kennedy (1-1, 5.79 ERA), who figures to be well him at all. Towers thinks that’s because there’s nothing particularly rested after leaving for Denver ahead of his teammates. flashy about Pollock’s game, and he imagines that some scouts might not see him play for an extended period of time and thus come away "Hope it works," manager Kirk Gibson told MLB's official website. unimpressed. "The altitude has some effect on some guys. Maybe he gets a better 9 night sleep. I tend not to sleep my first night there. We'll get in late -- Hample, who wrote a how-to book about snagging big league , it's going to be cold there and stuff." said he caught two home runs at a game for the second time after accomplishing the feat at Baltimore's Camden Yards on drives by the Kennedy is coming off a disappointing performance Saturday, allowing Mariners' and the Orioles' Corey Patterson on May six runs and 10 hits -- including three to the opposing pitcher -- over 5 13, 2010. 2/3 innings of a 7-5 loss to the Dodgers. Hample caught ' 724th home run in 2006 and said this was Kennedy, though, has been plenty sharp against the Rockies of late, the third time he's nabbed a player's first big league homer, with going 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA over his last five starts in the series. He's Gregorius joining and Mike Nickeas. He's come up with 29 struck out 36 and issued just five walks in 35 innings. home run balls -- 24 off the bat and five tossed to him after landing in and other areas. Besides having his way with Gonzalez, Kennedy has also made things difficult on Tulowitzki, who's gone 3 for 17 in their matchups. Both Hample, who gave Gregorius the home run ball in exchange for an Gonzalez and Tulowitzki, though, have taken Kennedy deep. autographed baseball, authored the book "How to Snag Major League Baseballs." He claimed he would have grabbed Martin Prado's sixth- The Rockies counter with Jhoulys Chacin (2-0, 1.96), who gave up two inning homer to left had he not been speaking with a television reporter runs and four hits over five frames Saturday in a 9-5 victory in San at the time. Hample stores his home run records on his phone. Diego. The right-hander is 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA over nine career starts against the Diamondbacks. "I'm a dork, but not a big enough dork that I have it all memorized," he said. The D-backs (9-6) dropped back-to-back games at Yankee Stadium before salvaging Thursday's series finale with a 6-2 win in 12 innings. Even though he lives in Manhattan, Hample was wearing a Cody Ross hit a go-ahead single before Eric Chavez followed with a Diamondbacks cap because he's been a fan of Bell's since 2004. three-run double. "Zack's crazy. I know Zack from when I was a rookie with the Mets," "It just shows a lot of character how we won this game," reliever Heath Bell said. "He probably was a Padres fan when I was a Padre, a Marlins Bell said. fan when I was a Marlin."

Acquired from the Reds in a three-team trade this offseason, 23-year- Hample did not catch Cano's sixth-inning solo homer off Patrick old Didi Gregorius also came up big in his Diamondbacks debut, going Corbin, which cut the D-backs' lead to 2-1. 2 for 5 with his first career homer. The promising shortstop missed the first 14 games with a strained right elbow. New York, which lost for just the second time in nine games, loaded the bases with one out in the eighth against reliever David Hernandez, "He's coming off an injury," Gibson said. "We'll be careful with him." and Cano was hit by a 1-2 pitch above his left ankle as he tried to check his swing. Cano headed to first thinking the score had been tied, but Paul Goldschmidt, batting .429 with a homer and three RBIs during a umpires ruled he went around too far and called him out. five-game hitting streak, has reached base in all 15 contests this year. He's hitting .333 with 10 RBIs over 12 career games at Coors Field. Hernandez then struck out Kevin Youkilis to escape the jam, but Cervelli sent a hanging splitter from Putz that Hample caught in the The Diamondbacks have won 10 of the last 16 in Colorado. first row behind the left-field scoreboard with one out in the ninth.

D-backs score four runs in 12th, avoid sweep The score stayed tied until the 12th. Gerardo Parra doubled off David By Associated Press / FOXSportsArizona.com Phelps (0-1) leading off and advanced to third when Prado flied out to http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/mlb/arizona- Brett Gardner, who made a sliding catch on the center-field warning diamondbacks/story/D-backs-score-four-runs-in-12th-avoid- track. Paul Goldschmidt reached on the second catcher's interference sw?blockID=893911&feedID=3563 call against Cervelli, and Miguel Montero was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Ross then singled to left for his third hit from the ninth inning NEW YORK (AP) -- Didi Gregorius stepped to the plate in the third on, and Chavez, who spent the previous two seasons with the Yankees, inning and guessed fastball. Next thing the rookie knew, he was circling doubled to deep center. the bases after the first pitch he saw as a member of the Diamondbacks. Bell (1-0) pitched the 11th in a game that lasted 4 hours, 11 minutes, for Gregorius lined a ball into the right-field seats that was picked up by his first decision since the Diamondbacks acquired him from the Zack Hample, a 35-year-old New Yorker. Hample also caught Francisco Marlins during the offseason. Cervelli's tying home run into the left-field stands off J.J. Putz in the ninth, but the Diamondbacks bounced back to beat the Yankees 6-2 "The important thing is we didn't panic, hung in there, came back and when Cody Ross hit a go-ahead single in the 12th and Eric Chavez won," manager Kirk Gibson said. followed with a three-run double against his former team. Obtained in the three-team Trevor Bauer trade in December, Gregorius "We didn't give up," D-backs reliever Heath Bell said. "We just kept started the season on the disabled list with a strained right elbow and hit grinding." .387 during a rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno. Wearing uniform No. 1, he pulled a 92 mph pitch from Phil Hughes into the third row. The New York failed to complete a three-game sweep after learning captain 23-year-old, born in and raised in Curacao, has a given Derek Jeter again fractured his left ankle and will be sidelined until after name of Mariekson Julius Gregorius. He made his big league debut last the All-Star break. Sept. 5 with the Reds and went 6 for 20 last season.

It was a very strange night that included a pair of catcher's interference "He's coming off an injury," Gibson said. "We'll be careful with him." calls against Cervelli and a bases-loaded hit batter that wasn't because Robinson Cano swung at strike three.

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Corbin, who grew up in the Syracuse suburb of Clay, left 37 tickets for "Zack's crazy. I know Zack from when I was a rookie with the Mets," family and friends -- and they nearly saw him improve to 3-0. Using a Bell said, according to the Associated Press. "He probably was a Padres sharp slider, the left-hander extended his scoreless streak to 15 innings fan when I was a Padre, a Marlins fan when I was a Marlin." before Cano homered off an ad above the Yankees bullpen. Corbin allowed two hits in seven innings, struck out seven and walked three, Crazy or not, Hample was doing something right Thursday. throwing 60 of 94 pitches for strikes and lowering his ERA to 1.43. Having a ball: Fan catches 2 homers at single game Hughes, who has allowed five home runs in 14 innings this season, gave By Associated Press / ArizonaSports.com up six hits in seven innings with six strikeouts and no walks. He lowered http://arizonasports.com/42/1628196/Having-a-ball-Fan-catches-2- his ERA from 10.29 to 6.43. homers-at-single-game

"It just shows a lot of character how we won this game," Bell said. NEW YORK (AP) - Zack Hample leads the majors in hogging home run balls. NOTES: Ian Kennedy traveled to Denver ahead of the Diamondbacks to prepare for Friday night's start at the Rockies. ... It was the 90th The 35-year-old New Yorker picked up Didi Gregorius' first big league anniversary of the opening of the original Yankee Stadium. After setting homer when the Arizona Diamondbacks rookie lined a pitch into the record-low attendances for new Yankee Stadium on Friday (35,033), third row of right-field seats in the third inning Thursday night at Sunday (34,154) and Tuesday (34,107), New York drew 36,033 for the Yankee Stadium. homestand finale. ... Goldschmidt has reached base in all 15 games this year. Then he caught a tying drive by Francisco Cervelli of the Yankees in the first row of left-field stands in the ninth. Good day for Gregorius, better day for fan By Fox Sports Arizona / FOXSportsArizona.com "It's a little bit of luck, obviously. I move all over the place constantly," http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/mlb/arizona- Hample said after Arizona's 6-2 victory over New York in 12 innings. diamondbacks/story/Good-day-for-Gregorius-better-day-for- "People don't notice the seven games I've been to this year and didn't fa?blockID=893935&feedID=4677 catch a home run."

It was a good day for D-backs rookie Didi Gregorius. It might have Author of the 1999 book "How to Snag Major League Baseballs," been an even better day for Zack Hample, a fan and home run ball Hample is having a ball, the Cal Ripken Jr. of his hobby. Hample said collector who was in attendance at the Diamondbacks-Yankees game he's come away from 880 consecutive games with at least one ball, a Thursday night at Yankee Stadium. streak dating to September 1993 at old Yankee Stadium.

Gregorius homered on the first pitch he saw in a D-backs uniform in He caught two homers in one game for the second time after the third inning, a drive into the right-field seats that was caught by accomplishing the feat at Baltimore's Camden Yards on May 13, 2010, Hample, wearing a Sedona red Arizona hat among a sea of New York drives to right in consecutive innings by Seattle's Michael Saunders and fans. And Hample wasn’t done yet. the Orioles' Corey Patterson.

In the ninth inning, with the Diamondbacks leading 2-1, closer J.J. Putz Hample caught Barry Bonds' 724th home run, at San Diego off Chan gave up a game-tying home run to the Yankees' Francisco Cervelli into Ho Park on Aug. 12, 2006. He caught the first big league home runs by the first row in left field. You'll never guess who caught it. Mike Nickeas (April 21, 2011) and Mike Trout (July 24, 2011) and the last home run hit by the at Shea Stadium (Carlos Hample, author of the book "How to Snag Major League Baseballs," Beltran on Sept. 28, 2008). was there to make the grab, making Thursday night's game the second in which he'd caught two home run balls. The 35-year-old New Yorker By Hample's count, he's come up with 29 home run balls: 24 off the bat also caught Barry Bonds' 724th homer in 2006 and snagged Mike and five tossed to him after landing in bullpens and other areas. Trout's first career long ball in 2011. He claimed he would have grabbed Martin Prado's sixth-inning homer Hample said he's caught 29 home runs balls overall. to left had he not been speaking with a Diamondbacks television reporter at the time. "It's a little bit of luck, obviously. I move all over the place constantly," Hample told the Associated Press after the game. "People don't notice "I really just go by instinct. I don't position differently for different the seven games I've been to this year and didn't catch a home run." hitters," he said. "I had a friend sitting out in right field tonight who called me early in the game and said, `We're over here. Say hello.' I FOX Sports Arizona's Jody Jackson caught up with Hample for an intentionally waited for Gregorius' first at-bat. I knew he had no home interview after his catch of Gregorius' homer (which he gave to runs." Gregorius after the game in exchange for an autographed ball). But the TV face time may have kept Hample from making it a trifecta, as D- A graduate of Guilford College in North Carolina, Hample works at backs third baseman Martin Prado's homer during the same half-inning Argosy Book Store, which was founded by his grandfather near landed just a few rows away. Bloomingdales on Manhattan's East Side. He does some baseball writing and has turned ball-hawking into a business: He accompanies Remarkably, the night got even better for Hample, who said he's not as fans to games and guarantees each they will get a ball. much a D-backs fan as he is a supporter of reliever Heath Bell, playing his first season in Arizona after being acquired over the winter from Hample has a website to track his quest, is quick to tweet pictures of Miami. himself with each newly caught ball and stores his home run records on his cellphone. Bell, who pitched the 11th inning, earned the win when the Diamondbacks scored four times in the 12th to pull out a 6-2 victory. "I'm a dork, but not a big enough dork that I have it all memorized," he said.

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Even though he lives in Manhattan, in a ball-filled, one-bedroom Despite the late barrage of runs, left fielder A.J. Pollock went 0-for-6 apartment, Hample was wearing a Diamondbacks cap because he's been and second baseman Cliff Pennington went 0-for-4 in the contest. a Heath Bell fan since 2004. Noted: "Zack's crazy. I know Zack from when I was a rookie with the Mets," the Arizona reliever said. "He probably was a Padres fan when I was a • Heath Bell, who pitched the 11th inning, got his first win as a member Padre, a Marlins fan when I was a Marlin." of the D-backs.

Hample, who gave Gregorius back his home run ball in exchange for an • Paul Goldschmidt has now reached base safely in all 15 games. He autographed baseball, has been to Yankee Stadium, Citi Field and went 3-for-5 in the contest. Fenway Park this season and plans on going to all 30 major league parks this year. • There were quite a few oddities in Thursday's series finale, including two catcher interference calls and one fan catching two home run balls. He's being sponsored by BIGS sunflower seeds, which will donate up to $15,000 to Pitch In For Baseball, which collects and redistributes Up Next: baseball and softball equipment to people in needy communities. It will donate $500 for each stadium where he gets a game-used ball- he has to The D-backs continue their road trip in Colorado on Friday night. grab it on his own; he can't accept balls picked up by other fans. So far Right-hander Ian Kennedy will get the start for Arizona. He will be he's 3 for 3, and he hopes to give BIGS a set of 30 balls to auction off, opposed by right-hander Jhoulys Chacin of the Rockies. First pitch is one from each ballpark. set for 5:40 p.m.

Hample said he's caught 153 foul balls during games and gotten 6,516- Cervelli forces extras, but Phelps falls apart in 12th "that's the exact number"- baseballs from big league ballparks, mostly By: Daniel Pfeiffer / The Examiner during batting practice. He's caught more balls than many big leaguers http://www.examiner.com/article/cervelli-forces-extras-but-phelps- in their entire careers. falls-apart-12th

"I've given away more baseballs than I can count," he said. NEW YORK – David Phelps surrendered four runs in the twelfth inning when Cody Ross hit a go-ahead single and former teammate Eric Grit Index: D-backs score four runs in the 12th inning to defeat Chavez ripped a three-run double to push the Arizona Diamondbacks the Yankees past the New York Yankees on Thursday night by a score of 6-2. By Daria Del Colliano / ArizonaSports.com http://arizonasports.com/42/1628186/Grit-Index-Dbacks-score-four- Of course, the game would not have even been in extra innings had it runs-in-the-12th-inning-to-defeat-the-Yankees not been for catcher Fransisco Cervelli’s game-tying home run with one out in the ninth inning off D-Backs closer J.J. Putz. The Arizona Diamondbacks were able to salvage the final game of their three-game set against the Yankees in New York, but not without some Phil Hughes started for the Yankees on Thursday night, pitching seven late-inning drama. strong innings. He allowed just two runs – both on solo home runs – and six hits. The first home run was a third-inning blast by Didi D-backs' closer J.J. Putz blew the save in the ninth inning, surrendering Gregorius, while Martin Prado hit a leadoff homer in the sixth inning to a game-tying solo home run to Francisco Cervelli. give Arizona a 2-0 lead.

But, Arizona rallied for four runs in the 12th inning, highlighted by In the bottom half of the sixth, Robinson Cano and the Yankees struck Cody Ross' RBI single and Eric Chavez's three-run double to defeat the back. The All-Star second baseman launched his fifth home run of the Bronx Bombers by the score of 6-4. season, bringing the score to 2-1, Diamondbacks. That would be the extent of the scoring until Cervelli brought the game into extra innings. The Good: The New York Yankees head north of the border next for a weekend Rookie shortstop Didi Gregorius stole the spotlight in his first game series with the . will be on the mound with the D-backs. Gregorius roped the first pitch he saw as a D-back on Friday, squaring off with Brandon Morrow of the Blue Jays. First into the right field stands. The 23-year-old went 2-for-5 with a home pitch is scheduled for 7:07 PM. run, double and RBI in his Arizona debut. Dbacks TV duo getting to know one another in the booth Gregorius started the season on the disabled list with a strained right By Eric Sorenson / Pros2Preps.com elbow. He was re-instated by the team after Aaron Hill was sent to the http://www.pros2preps.com/2013/04/dbacks-tv-duo-getting-to-know- DL. Gregorius hit .387 during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno. one-another-in-the-booth/

D-backs' starter Patrick Corbin saw a strong outing spoiled against the The dawn of a new Major League Baseball season is frequently Yankees. The 23-year-old southpaw surrendered just one run on two accompanied with change. It happens on the roster, the coaching staff, hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked three. in the front office, and occasionally the broadcast booth as we saw this past winter when the Arizona Diamondbacks brass cut ties with the The lone run Corbin gave up was a solo home run to Robinson Cano in embattled TV duo of Daron Sutton and in favor of ESPN the sixth inning, which snapped a streak of 15 consecutive scoreless studio talent Steve Berthiume and ex-Cubs who managed frames. the Dbacks to a title in 2001.

The Bad: Like players and coaches, broadcasters must get a feel for working with one another, as well. With nearly every venture in life, building Putz blew his second save of the season against the Yankees, spoiling successful chemistry takes time as the duo gets to know one another in Corbin's gem. the booth and away from the ballpark.

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“It’s a work in progress,” Brenly told Brad Cesmat in a recent interview CANO DID HOMER: In the sixth with the Yankees down two, Cano on ‘Big Guy on Sports.’ “We’re not going to lie to you. Steve has got one of the runs back, nailing his fifth of the season. Cano didn't hit relatively little experience doing play-by-play. His experience was as a his fifth homer in 2012 until May 22. He ended up with a career-high studio host…I think with each passing day we’ve gotten into a better 33. rhythm.” PHIL-ING IT UP: Phil Hughes pitched way better than he did in his That rhythm was severely lacking in the TV booth last summer after first two starts. It is hard not to when you come in at 0-2 with a 10.29 Sutton was suspended on June 20 after calling a game against the Seattle ERA. Mariners for what team President Derrick Hall referred to as “philosophical differences.” It would be the final game he’d broadcast In the third, rookie Didi Gregorius got him on the first pitch with the organization. Gregorious saw as a Diamondback. Leading off the sixth, Martin Prado nailed another solo shot. In 2012, Hughes led Major League Baseball Grace was suspended indefinitely weeks later after receiving his second with 22 homers allowed at home. After Thursday, he has allowed five in DUI in 15 months. 2013.

Brenly and his new partner are preaching patience as they get a feel for HOWEVER: Hughes' stuff was much improved. He pitched out of one another. trouble in the fifth when Nunez didn't commit an error, but failed to come up with a playable ball off the bat of ex-Yankee Eric Chavez to “It’s a long season,” he explained to Cesmat. “They’re not all going to begin the inning. After an out, Gregorius' double put runners at second be highlight reel games. They’re going to be a lot of stinkers. We have and third. However, Hughes struck out Cliff Pennington and got to learn how to slow down a little bit and find other things to talk about Gerardo Parra to fly out to center. away from the field from time-to-time.” To end his night in the seventh, Hughes dialed it up to 93-mph on his Although new to play-by-play Brenly believes Berthiume’s savvy, 109th pitch to finally get Gregorius swinging. preparation, and extensive television experience at ESPN (12 years) and CNN (three years) serve him well. Hughes finished with a nice line: two earned runs on six hits, six strikeouts and no walks. “Steve, if anything, has been over prepared,” he said. “He knows everything about every player on the field and as an analyst I love that. E-NUNEZ: Nunez made his first error of the season on a bad throw Just like a ball club, we’re trying to find out identity right now.” on a relatively routine play in the eighth.

PAID ATTENDANCE: 36,033. Still, a lot of empty seats on a cool Rapid Reaction: D-Backs 6, Yankees 2 (12) night. By Andrew Marchand / ESPNNewYork.com http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/52976/rapid- ON DECK: I will be in the clubhouse after the game so check back in a reaction-d-backs-6-yankees-2-12 little while to hear the postgame chatter. First Pitch will be up at 6 a.m.

On the day the New York Yankees found out they will not have Derek IN THE HOLE: The Yankees are in Toronto. Andy Pettitte pitches for Jeter until after the All-Star break at the earliest, they failed to sweep the the first time since suffering back spasms a week-and-a-half ago. The Arizona Diamondbacks. matchups: Pettitte (2-0, 1.20) vs. Brandon Morrow(0-1, 4.60); Hiroki Kuroda (2-1, 2.87) vs. Mark Buehrle (1-0, 7.31); Sunday, Ivan Nova (1- The Yankees drop to 8-6 on the season. 1, 5.59) vs. Josh Johnson (0-1, 6.91). Friday's game is a 7:07 p.m. start, while Saturday and Sunday are set for 1:07 p.m. PHELPS LOSES IT: In the 12th inning, David Phelps allowed ex-Red Sox Cody Ross to hit a go-ahead single and then ex-Yankee Eric QUESTION OF THE NIGHT: Will Hughes ever be more than a No. Chavez cleared the loaded bases with a double. 4 or 5 starter? Diamondbacks have grit ... and talent MARTY! GET THE DeLOREAN: It was "Back To The Future" time By David Schoenfield / ESPN.com in the Bronx. Shades of the , as the Yankees turned in http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/35010/diamondbacks- some late-inning home run magic against an Arizona Diamondbacks have-grit-and-talent closer. In the ninth, versus Byun-Hyun Kim, I mean J.J. Putz, Francisco Cervelli hit a solo shot that scraped over the left-field wall to tie the The Arizona Diamondbacks took a beating in the offseason from the game. pundits.

REPLACING JETER: With the winning run at second and two outs in Prospect hounds criticized them for trading away former first-round the 11th, Eduardo Nunez nailed a hard liner to right that was caught. pick Trevor Bauer, a deal made in part because of Bauer's iconoclastic approach to his craft that rubbed the Diamondbacks the wrong way. MISSED OPPORTUNITY: Down a run in the eighth, the Yankees put men on first and second with one out. Vernon Wells stepped to the Statheads mocked them for apparently focusing on acquiring players plate with Robinson Cano on-deck. The last thing Diamondbacks with that undefinable attribute known as grit, in the mold of manager reliever David Hernandez wanted to do was walk Wells. Hernandez Kirk Gibson, who had grit running through his veins in his playing walked Wells on four pitches. days.

Cano, though, got behind in the count and struck out on a pitch that hit Traditional front-office types and ex-players ripped general manager his leg. Yankees manager protested, but umpire Ron Kulpa Kevin Towers for publicly putting talented right fielder on could not be swayed. Next, Kevin Youkilis struck out to leave the tying the block, and then not trading him when it became clear he had to be run at third and the go-ahead run at second. dealt, and then not getting enough in return when they did finally trade him. 13

but fellow outfielder Jason Kubel is on the DL with a strained quad; The message the Diamondbacks sent was clear: They didn't like Bauer, supersub is also on the DL with an oblique strain. they didn't like Upton, and they probably didn't like Chris Young, dealt for scrappy overachiever Cliff Pennington. As Jeff Passan of Yahoo That meant Arizona played Thursday's game, for example, without wrote in January: three of its projected starters in Eaton, Hill and Kubel. But that was a main reason I liked Arizona to win the NL West: I liked their depth As much as any baseball team in recent memory, the Diamondbacks on more than any other club in their division. They can still plug in Thursday publicly embraced the idea of grittiness and guts, of the Gerardo Parra and A.J. Pollock in the outfield; Gregorius shows their inherent and unquantifiable. And in doing so, they finished a two-trade depth at shortstop behind Pennington and Bloomquist; veteran Eric whammy over the last six weeks that has seen them ship out their two Chavez is around to play some third base or come off the bench. most talented players in an effort to better embody this belief. ... The Corbin, the second-year No. 5 starter who beat out prized rookie Tyler result is a fascinating experiment: a team stressing culture over talent. Skaggs in spring training, shows that the rotation is five-deep. The Diamondbacks might say otherwise -- (Martin) Prado is an All-Star and in both deals they got young and talented , one of the Yes, the Diamondbacks will be a punching bag all season on toughest things to find -- but a consensus of scouts and sabermetric and in blogs as people make jokes about their latest gritty effort. But wonks agree: In both trades, Arizona sacrificed one for the other. don't be surprised if they do some punching back of their own where it counts: in the win column. Towers didn't hide behind what the Diamondbacks were trying to do. "Different clubs like to look for certain intangibles," he said. "We like Diamondbacks-Rockies Preview that gritty, grinder type. Hard-nosed. I'm not saying Justin isn't that type By Associated Press / ESPN.com of guy." http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=330419127

I thought the Diamondbacks were criticized too heavily for their While the weather in Denver has been frigid of late, the Colorado offseason deals; not that I'm a believer in gritty grinders, but because Rockies have been red hot. the other side of the talent issue was that Bauer has had trouble throwing enough strikes, Upton wasn't that great in 2012, and maybe -- The surging Rockies try to extend the best home start in franchise let's give Towers a little credit here -- the players Arizona got in return history Friday night when they open a three-game set against the will help them win in 2013 and beyond. Arizona Diamondbacks.

Of course, we're two-plus weeks into the season and Upton has already After a pair of games were postponed due to heavy snow, Colorado (11- hit nine home runs -- more than half the 17 he hit last season -- so his 4) completed a shortened three-game sweep of the New York Mets hot start has sealed the perception that Arizona got snookered in that with Thursday's 11-3 victory. Dexter Fowler, Troy Tulowitzki and Josh trade with Atlanta. Rutledge all went deep for the Rockies, who tied the franchise record for lowest temperature to start a home game at 28 degrees. It's way too early to make any judgments on that, but on Thursday we saw both of Arizona's primary trade acquisitions make contributions in Colorado collected a season-high 17 hits in improving to 6-0 on its own Arizona's 6-2 win over the Yankees, as Didi Gregorius, acquired in the field for the first time. Bauer trade, played his first game for Arizona and homered in the third inning, and Martin Prado homered in the sixth. For Gregorius, it was The Rockies have also put together a six-game winning streak overall -- his first major league home run -- on the first pitch he saw with the D- their longest since winning seven straight April 9-15, 2011. Besides backs, a 92 mph fastball from Phil Hughes launched to right-center and going 23 for 62 (.371) with runners in scoring position, Colorado has prompting a big smile as he rounded third base. scored 46 runs and allowed 49 hits during its run.

Prado is a career .295 hitter who hit .301/.359/.438 last season with the "We were able to create situations with a lot of runners on base and Braves, but it's his ability to play superb defense at multiple positions take advantage of the opportunities," said Carlos Gonzalez, who went 3 that Arizona liked as well. He's already started games at third base, left for 5 to raise his average to .400. "We've got to continue to play this field and second base. Check out this trio of plays made at third base way against whoever comes to our ballpark." against the Yankees: This one on Thursday, this one on Wednesday, and another one from Wednesday. Gonzalez has been especially locked in over the last four games, going Gregorius comes with a strong defensive rep at shortstop; the question 11 for 17 with a homer and nine runs scored. The slugging left fielder is is whether he'll hit. After batting .265/.324/.393 between Double-A and batting .415 with nine homers, 29 runs and 20 RBIs over his last 27 Triple-A in 2012, he was off to a great start at Triple-A Reno, hitting home games against the Diamondbacks. .387 with two homers and only one strikeout in 33 plate appearances. Sure, it's Reno, but maybe Towers saw more potential in his bat than Gonzalez, though, is just 4 for 23 with nine strikeouts against Friday's others did. scheduled starter Ian Kennedy (1-1, 5.79 ERA), who figures to be well rested after leaving for Denver ahead of his teammates. Those home runs gave the D-backs a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning -- Patrick Corbin allowed just two hits in seven "Hope it works," manager Kirk Gibson told MLB's official website. innings -- which J.J. Putz gave away, but Arizona rallied with four runs "The altitude has some effect on some guys. Maybe he gets a better in the 12th off David Phelps. night sleep. I tend not to sleep my first night there. We'll get in late, it's going to be cold there and stuff." The impressive aspect of Arizona's 9-6 start is they've done so while being banged up -- maybe not quite to the extent the Yankees are Kennedy is coming off a disappointing performance Saturday, allowing banged up, but enough so that even grit and guts have been sidelined. six runs and 10 hits -- including three to the opposing pitcher -- over 5 Projected starting center fielder and leadoff hitter is out 2/3 innings of a 7-5 loss to the . with an elbow strain; Aaron Hill, who hit 26 home runs last season, was off to a good start before breaking his hand; Cody Ross just returned 14

Kennedy, though, has been plenty sharp against the Rockies of late, lost in the shuffle when top outfield prospects are discussed. He's going 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA over his last five starts in the series. He's making some noise in '12, but can he continue to do so? struck out 36 and issued just five walks in 35 innings. Pollock has a good pedigree: he was drafted in the first round in 2009, Besides having his way with Gonzalez, Kennedy has also made things 17th overall, out of Notre Dame. He was seen as a solid all-around difficult on Tulowitzki, who's gone 3 for 17 in their matchups. Both player who played above his average natural tools and wouldn't need Gonzalez and Tulowitzki, though, have taken Kennedy deep. long in the minors due to his advanced level of polish. Unfortunately, his timetable was pushed back by an elbow injury which cost him the The Rockies counter with Jhoulys Chacin (2-0, 1.96), who gave up two entire 2010 season. runs and four hits over five frames Saturday in a 9-5 victory at San Diego. The right-hander is 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA over nine career starts He came back with a successful '11 campaign in Double-A, hitting against the Diamondbacks. .307/.357/.444 with 41 doubles and 36 steals for Mobile, then followed up with a .318/.369/.411 line for Triple-A Reno in 2012, with 21 steals. Arizona (9-6) dropped back-to-back games at Yankee Stadium before He was called up to the major league roster three different times last salvaging Thursday's series finale with a 6-2, 12-inning win. Cody Ross year, enough to collect 81 at-bats. He hit .247/.315/.395, regarded as hit a go-ahead single before Eric Chavez followed with a three-run somewhat disappointing, granted it was a small, sporadic sample. As double. stated above, he's off to a hotter start this year.

"It just shows a lot of character how we won this game," reliever Heath Pollack is listed at 6-1, 205, a right-handed hitter and thrower, born Bell said. December 5, 1987. His running speed, power, and throwing arm are all rated as average by most scouts. That shouldn't be considered an insult: Acquired from Cincinnati in a three-team trade this offseason, 23-year- none of his tools are bad, either, and his feel for the game helps them old Didi Gregorius also came up big in his Diamondbacks debut, going play up, particularly with his defense and baserunning. He's been a very 2 for 5 with his first career homer. The promising shortstop missed the effective stealer despite average speed, and his fielding instincts draw first 14 games with a strained right elbow. praise. He's capable of handling all three outfield positions, and the advanced defensive metrics like him, in the admittedly small sample sizes they have to work with. "He's coming off an injury," Gibson said. "We'll be careful with him." With the trade of Justin Upton and injury to Adam Eaton, Pollock has Paul Goldschmidt, batting .429 with a homer and three RBIs during a an opening for playing time and is (so far) making the most of it, five-game hitting streak, has reached base in all 15 contests. He's hitting leading the National League in doubles for example. It is unlikely that .333 with 10 RBIs over 12 career games at Coors Field. he'll ever be a big home run hitter, but his combination of a decent batting average with respectable pop to the gaps, some speed, and the The Diamondbacks have won 10 of 16 in Colorado. versatility to play all the outfield positions will help his teams win. He should have a long career in the borderland between being a second- D-Backs Rally in 12th Inning to Beat Yankees division starter or a fourth outfielder. By Dave Caldwell / The Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142412788732449370457843154 Phoenix Sports Teams Look To Mexico For Fans 2704592104.html By Jude Joffe-Block / FronterasDesk.org http://www.fronterasdesk.org/news/2013/apr/18/phoenix-sports- Diamondbacks 6, Yankees 2 teams-look-fans-mexico/

D-Backs Rally in 12th Inning to Beat Yankees MEXICO CITY — Phoenix-based professional sports teams have long reached out to the metro area’s large Latino population to cultivate new Five days after pitching four scoreless innings, Yankees reliever David fans. But now they are seeking supporters across the border. Phelps gave up four runs in one scattershot 12th inning Thursday, allowing the Arizona Diamondbacks to grind out a 6-2 victory and snap At a recent Phoenix Suns game, the US Airways arena is fairly full. Yet the Yankees' three-game winning streak. team president Jason Rowley says the Suns can do more to grow its international fan base. Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli tied the score with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning by hitting a home run off Arizona reliever “If you really look at where we are positioned geographically, that is J.J. Putz that barely cleared the left-field fence. something that I think we can really move the needle on,” Rowley said.

Arizona starter Patrick Corbin, who brought in a 10-inning scoreless Particularly on the other side of the border, where the economy is streak, allowed only a bases-empty home run by Robinson Cano in growing and there are reports of a growing middle class. seven innings. The Yankees' Phil Hughes had his best outing of the season, giving up two runs on six hits in seven innings, with no walks “There are people in Mexico with a lot of money to spend,” Rowley and six strikeouts. said. “Who are sports fans, who like to go on vacations, who like to come to travel up here to the states.” Prospect of the Day: A.J. Pollock, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks By John Sickels / SB Nation Basketball is increasingly a global sport, and Rowley is angling for the http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/4/19/4240256/prospect-of- Suns to be the team to capture fans in Mexico and even Central the-day-a-j-pollock-of-arizona-diamondbacks America.

The season is young and things can change, but A.J. Pollock of the The Suns launched a new Spanish-language website this season, and the Arizona Diamondbacks has been one of the best rookies in baseball this team is hoping to bring the Mexican national team to Arizona for an month, hitting .308 with a .641 SLG through his first 12 games. Pollock exhibition game, which would raise the Suns' profile back in Mexico. has been on Arizona prospect lists for several years, but has often been

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They aren’t the only Phoenix-based professional team thinking about Sports reporter Juan Pablo Sanchez with the Mexican newspaper this audience. Milenio appreciated the message.

“We’ve just introduced a Sonoran hot dog at our ballpark, which is very “I have never been in a press conference like this,” Sanchez said. “And popular in Mexico,” said Luis Gonzalez, one of the shining stars in I think it is very cool, because we the media we can spread the message Diamondbacks history who now works for the baseball team’s front that Phoenix is open for the Mexicans, and not always closed like the office. news said.”

The new menu item comes with bacon beans and all the trimmings. Still, Sanchez said, here in Mexico City, far from the border, the Diamondbacks and the Suns will have to do more to get their brand The team is also giving away the audio broadcasts of weekend games to out. six Sonoran radio stations. An office in Sonora’s capitol, Hermosillo, sells Diamondbacks tickets. He said the world-famous American teams — like the New York Yankees and , or the Chicago Bulls — still seem to hold Representatives of the team say a big part of the strategy is long-term: if the most sway here in the Mexican capitol. they can win over young fans in Mexico now, they will buy some merchandise, and one day, eventually, attend a game. Aces Fall to Sky Sox, 4-2 Sports business analyst Maury Brown said there is a push for all the By Reno Aces major sports leagues to grow internationally. http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130419&content_id=4 5203520&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t2310&sid=t2310 “And if it is something easily reachable from countries nearby, border states, that would make the most logical sense for any sports league to RENO, Nev.-LHP dealt a quality start on Thursday night, look at,” Brown said. but the Aces fell 4-2 to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox at Aces Ballpark.

American sports have a strong following in Mexico, particularly the Skaggs and Sky Sox LHP Drew Pomeranz each faced the minimum NFL. Some teams, such as the Dallas Cowboys, have managed to make through the first three innings of the contest. deep inroads with Mexican fans. DJ LeMahieu singled with one out for Colorado Springs in the top of The L.A. Dodgers won over a loyal Mexican following in the 1980s due the fourth to register the first hit of the game. LeMahieu made it home to the famed Mexican pitcher, Fernando Valenzuela. on the very next play, as tripled to left field and advanced home on a missed catch error by shortstop . The Diamondbacks in turn say they are keeping their eyes peeled for the next Valenzuela. The Sky Sox extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the seventh on a by former Aces Tommy Manzella. But analyst Maury Brown says even teams without big stars can build support by courting fans who have never been courted before. Reno jumped on the board for the first time in the bottom of the frame when Tuffy Gosewisch's two-out double drove in Tyler Kuhn. The “We kind of look at this as a ‘land grab’ from a marketing perspective,” Aces drove in another run in the bottom of the eighth off the bat of Brown said. “The one that is there first has the ability to entrench brand Kila Ka'aihue. loyalty.” Colorado Springs added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to take Mexican reporter Jose Gutierrez interviews former Diamondback a 4-2 lead. The Aces had the tying run at the plate after Evan Frey player, Luis Gonzalez in Mexico City. singled with two outs, but Gosewisch struck out to end the game.

Earlier this month the Diamondbacks and the Suns joined a Phoenix Gosewisch and Ka'aihue each collected two hits on the night for Reno. trade mission to Mexico City. Also in attendance was David Rousseau, president of the Salt River Project, who is chairing the committee in Skaggs, who registered a season-high 8 strikeouts, was charged with the charge of bringing the Super Bowl to Glendale, Ariz. in 2015. loss for Reno. He gave up two earned runs on six hits through 7.0 innings pitched. One purpose of the mission was to repair tensions caused by the state’s immigration enforcement law, SB 1070, and gain back Mexican tourists Pomeranz earned his second-straight win for Colorado Springs. He — who account for the second biggest group of tourists to the United struck out nine batters and gave up only two hits through 5.1 shutout States. innings. Reliever Rob Scahill, who threw 3.1 innings of relief, was credited with his first save of the season. Scahill gave up two earned The three-day trip included a meeting with Mexican travel agents to runs on five hits, while striking out five. discuss selling Phoenix vacation packages centered around sporting events. The series wraps up Friday night, as the Aces look to secure their first series victory of the season. RHP Nelson Figueroa (0-1, 14.73 ERA) At a press conference in Mexico City, the Diamondbacks’ Luis gets the nod for Reno, while Colorado Springs will counter with LHP Gonzalez told Mexican sports reporters that Mexicans are welcome in Nick Schmidt (0-1, 4.14 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. PT. The Phoenix. game will be highlighted by Saint Mary's Fireworks Friday presented by KRNV News 4. Gonzalez, who is Cuban-American, gave some remarks in Spanish. Aces celebrate National Animal Cracker Day "We want Mexicans to follow our teams," he said. By Reno Aces http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130418&content_id=4 5193024&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t2310&sid=t2310 16

made sure to add some support. Brent Clevlen doubled to the wall in ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-™ has teamed up with right to increase the lead to 6-4 and Garrett Weber followed that with a D. F. Stauffer Biscuit Company, makers of Animal Crackers since 1871, two-run single to right that gave the BayBears some breathing room at on a season-long national sponsorship with select MiLB™ clubs. As 8-4. part of the two-year agreement beginning this season, the snack cracker for kids and adults, as well as Meiji Hello Panda créme filled cookie Bryan Woodall struck out the side in the bottom of the 13th to preserve varieties, can be found in clubs' concession stands throughout the 2013 the victory for Brett Lorin (3-0) who worked three scoreless innings for and 2014 seasons. Other promotional elements include a "Roar Like an his third victory in four appearances this season. Animal" between innings contest, a pre-game kids parade, logo exposure on the clubs' video boards during each home game, hospitality Inciarte and Freeman both finished the game 3-6 batting atop the options and prominently displayed outfield signage in six ballparks, BayBears lineup, and Weber and Clevlen each homered and collected among others. three RBIs.

"Minor League Baseball and Stauffer's both share a rich history of The fifth and final game of the series will take place Friday night and providing memories for kids and families alike," said Rod Meadows, will feature Bradin Hagens (2-0, 1.93) on the mound for Mobile Minor League Baseball's Vice President of Sales & Marketing. "Baseball opposite Victor Mateo (0-2, 9.64) for the Biscuits. First pitch is and animal crackers bring out the kid in everyone, so combining the scheduled for 7:05, and the game can be heard live on two was a logical connection for us." baybearsradio.com and Comcast channel 45.

"We look forward to introducing Stauffer's Animal Crackers and Meiji Mobile BayBears break through in 13th inning against Hello Panda to the MiLB family of fans," said Chuck Kukic, Stauffer's Montgomery Biscuits SVP of Planning and Business Development. By Mark Inabinett / AL.com http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/04/mobile_baybears_break As part of the National Animal Cracker Day celebration, clubs playing _through.html home games on April 18 will distribute one oz. Animal Cracker product samples to fans as they exit their ballparks. Clubs conducting exit MONTGOMERY, Alabama - After getting one hit in six scoreless sampling are the Harrisburg Senators, Inland Empire 66ers of San innings against the Montgomery bullpen, the Mobile BayBears broke Bernardino, Lancaster JetHawks, Las Vegas 51s, Rancho Cucamonga through with four runs in the 13th inning to take an 8-4 victory over the Quakes, Reno Aces, Stockton Ports, Tucson Padres and Visalia Biscuits in a Southern League baseball game on Thursday night at Rawhide. Riverwalk Stadium.

"As one of the first manufacturers to produce Animal Crackers, Garrett Weber and Brent Clevlen hit a home run and knocked in three Stauffer's is proud to celebrate National Animal Cracker Day. We hope runs apiece in the game, and both were part of the 13th-inning rally. fans will enjoy a sample today and that this American classic will become as popular with them as the game of baseball," added Kukic. The BayBears (8-6) hadn't had a hit since the eighth inning when singled with one out in the top of the 13th against Neil Schenk (1-1). Mike Freeman singled and Nick Evans walked to load the bases. Jon Griffin's sacrifice fly gave Mobile a 5-4 lead. Clevlen doubled in a BayBears Outlast Biscuits 8-4 in 13 run, and Weber singled in two more. Clevlen and Weber Lead Offense With 3 RBI Each By Craig Durham / Mobile BayBears Mobile reliever Bryan Woodall struck out three Biscuits while yielding a http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130419&content_id=4 single in the bottom of the 13th. He came in for Brett Lorin (3-0), who 5204718&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t417&sid=t417 pitched three innings of two-hit, scoreless relief. Lorin stranded Biscuits on second and third in the bottom of the 11th. MONTGOMERY, AL - The Mobile BayBears allowed a 4-2 lead to slip away in the 8th inning on Thursday night at Riverwalk Stadium, but Montgomery (7-7) tied the game at 4-4 with two runs in the bottom of ultimately survived to defeat the Montgomery Biscuits 8-4 in 13 innings. the eighth, when Ty Morrison tripled and Mobile pitchers hit two batters, walked another and uncorked a run-scoring wild pitch. The team's first extra-inning affair of the 2013 season lasted three hours and 57 minutes, and evened up the five game series in Montgomery at Mobile used six pitchers after starter Anthony Meo, who gave up one two games a piece heading into Friday night's series finale. run on four hits in pitching the first five innings. Montgomery used six pitchers in the game, with Braulio Lara, C.J. Rienfenhasuer and Marquis The BayBears trailed 1-0 after one, but tied it up in the 3rd and went Fleming tossing two scoreless innings apiece out of the Biscuits bullpen. ahead 2-1 on Garrett Weber's first home run of the season in the top of Montgomery pitchers struck out 16 BayBears, with starter Enny the 4th. Romero fanning seven in 5.1 innings.

A two-run blast from Brent Clevlen - his second of the season - in the Inciarte and Freeman had three hits apiece for Mobile. Kevin Kiermaier top of the 6th put the BayBears ahead 4-1, and starter Anthony Meo left had three hits for Montgomery, which left 11 runners on base and was the game after five solid innings in line for his first victory at the AA 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. level. The right-hander allowed just four hits, and struck out two, but the bullpen faltered in the late innings.

The Biscuits got a run back in the 6th and then tied the game in the 8th Rawhide Rally In The 9th To Win 3-2 on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to force extra innings. Kerry Jenkins delivered a walk-off single to put 'Hide in win column By Josh Jackson / Visalia Rawhide The game remained tied 4-4 into the top of the 13th when the BayBears http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130418&content_id=4 offense finally came back to life. Ender Inciarte and Mike Freeman 5182316&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t516 both singled, and a walk to Nick Evans loaded the bases with one out. Jon Griffin gave Mobile the lead with a sacrifice fly, and his teammates 17

VISALIA - We all play out the scenario in our heads as kids. Bottom of April 19, 2013 the 9th, tie game, the bases loaded in a two-strike count. That's the  Bruins cancel morning skate; Red Sox on hold 11:26 am EDT exact scenario Kerry Jenkins was presented with on Thursday night at (The Associated Press) Rawhide Ballpark, as he was able to deliver the game winning single to  Five New York Yankees Who Could Have Been NFL Draft lift the Rawhide to a much needed 3-2 victory over the Lake Elsinore Picks 11:00 am EDT (Yahoo! Contributor Network) Storm. Visalia won in thrilling fashion to get back on the winning track to start off an exciting seven-game homestand.  Diamond happy 'Caroline' offers comfort 10:02 am EDT (The Associated Press) led off the game for the Storm with a walk and quickly  Yankees facing more time without Jeter 9:53 am EDT swiped two bases to put himself at third base with one out. Cory (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic) Spangenberg hit a weak blooper into left field which landed just fair in  Premier pitching matchup tonight in New York 9:47 am EDT between three Rawhide defenders to plate Jankowski, giving Lake (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic) Elsinore an early 1-0 lead.  What's the Source of Dillon Gee's Struggles? 9:11 am EDT (Yahoo! Contributor Network) The Rawhide were able to muster a run in the bottom of the 4th inning after two quick line drive outs to left field. Steven Rodriguez reached via  With and on the Mound, Citi a two-out walk and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch from Field Takes Center Stage 6:37 am EDT (Yahoo! Contributor Lake Elsinore starter James Needy. Raul Navarro took advantage of the Network) scoring opportunity with an RBI single up the middle past the shortstop  Padres CEO apologizes for comments about Greinke 4:00 am to plate Rodriguez and tie the game at 1-1. EDT (The SportsXchange)  Having a ball: Fan catches 2 homers at single game 3:36 am The game would remain deadlocked until the top of the 7th inning EDT (The Associated Press) when Storm catcher Robert Kral hit a leadoff home run to deep right  Lester off to best start since 2008 3:36 am EDT (Comcast field off Seth Simmons in between the scoreboard and outfield barn to SportsNet New England) put Lake Elsinore up 2-1. Simmons did a good job to limit the damage  Yankees-Blue Jays Preview 2:27 am EDT (The Associated Press) by striking out the side, stranding Storm runners at the corners.  Twins-White Sox Preview 2:23 am EDT (The Associated Press) That would end up paying off in the bottom of the 9th inning for the  After fan gets 2 HR balls, D-backs beat Yanks 6-2 1:56 am Rawhide. Evan Marzilli led off the inning and reached on a dropped EDT (The Associated Press) third strike. After a successful sacrifice bunt from Gerson Montilla,  Diamondbacks-Rockies Preview 1:53 am EDT (The Associated Dennis O'Grady (1-2) issued back-to-back walks to Raywilly Gomez Press) and Yazy Arbelo to load the bases. Tom Belza drove in the tying run on  Bronx Bummer 1:48 am EDT (Rotoworld) a shallow single to right field to make it 2-2.  Dodgers-Orioles Preview 1:45 am EDT (The Associated Press) Two batters later, Kerry Jenkins came to the dish with two outs. Jenkins  Cardinals-Phillies Preview 1:22 am EDT (The Associated Press) chopped a grounder in between the third baseman and shortstop, as B.J.  Indians-Astros Preview 1:17 am EDT (The Associated Press) Guinn was able to corral the ball but could not make the tough throw  Braves-Pirates Preview 12:53 am EDT (The Associated Press) over to first in time to record the out. That allowed Gomez to cross  Ross comes through for D'backs in 12th inning 12:50 am homeplate to secure a 3-2 walk-off, Rawhide victory. Kaleb Fleck (1-0) EDT (The SportsXchange) is credited with the victory, as he pitched a scoreless top of the 9th to keep the Rawhide within striking distance.  Royals-Red Sox Preview 12:38 am EDT (The Associated Press)  Athletics-Rays Preview 12:31 am EDT (The Associated Press) With the win, the Rawhide improve to 7-8 and will look to move to  Beltran, Wainwright lead Cards past Phillies 4-3 12:26 am .500 in game two of this four game set with Lake Elsinore on Friday EDT (The Associated Press) night at 7:00. Tickets are available at the Rawhide ticket office and  Showalter ready to face Mattingly 12:17 am EDT (Comcast online at RawhideBaseball.com. SportsNet Mid Atlantic)  Wieters' 10th-inning slam lifts Orioles 12:10 am EDT (The SportsXchange)  Gattis' homer lifts Braves over Pirates 12:10 am EDT (The SportsXchange)  Marlins-Reds Preview 12:07 am EDT (The Associated Press)  Reds beat Marlins 11-1 for 4th straight win 12:02 am EDT (The Associated Press)  Red Sox complete sweep in Cleveland 12:00 am EDT (The SportsXchange) April 18, 2013  Phillies call up Savery for injured Lannan 11:56 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)  Wieters hits slam in 10th, Orioles beat Rays 10-6 11:56 pm EDT (The Associated Press)  Slumping Phillies lack timely hits in loss to Cards 11:45 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)  Baseball standings 11:43 pm EDT (Reuters) April 19, 2013 • sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews  Lester pitches Red Sox to 6th straight win, 6-3 11:42 pm EDT http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews (The Associated Press)

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 Highlights of Thursday's MLB games 11:41 pm EDT (Reuters)  Mariners' pitching trumps Verlander, Tigers 7:50 pm EDT  Diamondbacks 6, Yankees 2 (12) 11:40 pm EDT (The (The SportsXchange) SportsXchange)  Padres CEO apologizes to Dodgers for comments 7:33 pm  Reds rout Marlins; Cingrani gets first win 11:40 pm EDT (The EDT (The Associated Press) SportsXchange)  Rockies roll to sixth straight win 7:30 pm EDT (The  Baseball results 11:31 pm EDT (Reuters) SportsXchange)  Gattis powers Braves past Pirates 6-4 11:31 pm EDT (The  Yankees SS Jeter out until after All-Star break 7:27 pm EDT Associated Press) (The Associated Press)  Red Sox option Bradley to Pawtucket 11:24 pm EDT (Comcast  Baseball-Highlights of Thursday's MLB games 7:23 pm EDT SportsNet New England) (Reuters)  Sale takes tough loss as Jays beat White Sox 11:09 pm EDT  Soriano, Rizzo homer, Cubs beat Rangers 6-2 7:23 pm EDT (The Associated Press) (The Associated Press)  Dickey, Jays shut down White Sox in win 11:00 pm EDT (The  Baseball-Major League Baseball roundup 7:18 pm EDT SportsXchange) (Reuters)  Viciedo doesn't expect DL with oblique strain 10:59 pm EDT  MLB Roundup: Jeter out until midseason 7:10 pm EDT (The (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) SportsXchange)  BC-BBO--Diamondbacks-Yankees,Extra  White Sox notes: Dunn not worried about slow start 7:06 pm InningsADVISORY, BBO 10:55 pm EDT (The Associated EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) Press)  In-Game Live: Phillies vs. Cardinals 7:00 pm EDT (Comcast  Phillies place LHP John Lannan on 15-day DL 10:51 pm EDT SportsNet Philadelphia) (The Associated Press)  LIVE: Sale, Sox go for series win 6:57 pm EDT (Comcast  Orioles 10, Rays 6, 10 innings 10:50 pm EDT (The SportsNet Chicago) SportsXchange)  Dickey leaves with soreness as Jays beat White Sox 10:44 pm EDT (The Associated Press)  Orioles win on Wieters' 10th-inning 10:43 pm April 19, 2013 • MLB.com EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic) http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

 Reds 11, Marlins 1 10:40 pm EDT (The SportsXchange)  Braves 6, Pirates 4 10:40 pm EDT (The SportsXchange) Last updated: Fri, April 19, 2013, 11:32 EDT  Red Sox sweep Indians with 6-3 win 10:38 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England) Friday, April 19, 2013  Red Sox 6, Indians 3 10:30 pm EDT (The SportsXchange) Team Player Transaction  Mariners-Rangers Preview 10:26 pm EDT (The Associated Press)  Cardinals 4, Phillies 3 10:20 pm EDT (The SportsXchange) Jackie Bradley Boston Red Sox Sent to Minors  Ortiz set to be activated Friday 10:20 pm EDT (The Jr. SportsXchange)  BC-BBA--Rays-Orioles,Extra Innings,ADVISORY, BBA Recalled From Minors, Rehab Boston Red Sox David Ortiz 10:15 pm EDT (The Associated Press) Assignment  Instant Replay: Cardinals 4, Phillies 3 10:00 pm EDT (Comcast Removed From 15-Day DL, (Right SportsNet Philadelphia) Boston Red Sox David Ortiz Achilles soreness)  Tigers-Angels Preview 9:49 pm EDT (The Associated Press)  Nationals-Mets Preview 9:34 pm EDT (The Associated Press) Philadelphia Joe Savery Called Up from Minors  Blue Jays 3, White Sox 1 9:30 pm EDT (The SportsXchange) Phillies  Tough Sox road trip ends with loss, injury 9:21 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) Thursday, April 18, 2013  Buchholz 'looking forward' to 'tough' start in Boston 9:20 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England) Team Player Transaction  Toronto RHP Dickey leaves with sore neck and back 8:53 pm

EDT (The Associated Press) Brent Lillibridge Outrighted to Minors  Brother of Cubs' Epstein ran Boston Marathon 8:49 pm EDT (The Associated Press) Tony Cingrani Called Up from Minors  Mariners shut out Tigers 2-0 8:47 pm EDT (The Associated Cincinnati Reds Justin Freeman Sent to Minors Press)  MLB Wrap: Braves improve to MLB-best 13-2 8:26 pm EDT Xavier Cedeno Designated for Assignment (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)

 Cubs-Brewers Preview 8:25 pm EDT (The Associated Press) Houston Astros Brandon Laird Purchased From Minors  If the money’s right, Wrigley will be a destination for free

agents 8:20 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) Houston Astros Brett Wallace Sent to Minors  Rockies ice Mets with temperatures in the 20s 8:09 pm EDT (The Associated Press) Los Angeles Jerry Hairston Reinstated From League 19

Dodgers Jr. Suspension Minnesota Darin Placed on 15-Day DL, (Stress

Twins Mastroianni reaction in left ankle) Adeiny Placed on 15-Day DL, (Bruised left Hechavarria elbow) New York Mets Greg Burke Sent to Minors

Transferred to 60-Day DL, (Mild New York Mets Called Up from Minors Miami Marlins Nathan Eovaldi right shoulder inflammation)

New York Mets Frank Francisco Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation

Miami Marlins Nick Green Purchased From Minors Oakland Adam Rosales Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation Milwaukee Athletics Mike Fiers Sent to Minors Brewers Oakland Shane Peterson Sent to Minors Philadelphia Placed on 15-Day DL, (Strained Athletics John Lannan Phillies left quadriceps tendon) Oakland Reinstated from Paternity Leave Brandon Moss Pittsburgh Athletics List Charlie Morton Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation Pirates Pittsburgh Refused Minor League Assignment Chris Leroux Hector Noesi Called Up from Minors Pirates - Free Agent

Wednesday, April 17, 2013 San Diego Cameron Placed on 15-Day DL, (Right wrist

Padres Maybin impingement) Team Player Transaction San Diego Recalled From Minors, Rehab Franklin Padres Assignment Boston Red Sox Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation Morales San Diego Removed From 15-Day DL, Chase Headley Hisanori Padres (Broken left thumb) Chicago Cubs Outrighted to Minors Takahashi San Francisco Placed on 15-Day DL, (Strained Chicago White Giants right oblique) Jordan Danks Called Up from Minors Sox San Francisco Jean Machi Called Up from Minors Cleveland Placed on 15-Day DL, (Right hand Giants Indians laceration) Bobby Seattle Mariners Sent to Minors Cleveland LaFromboise Called Up from Minors Indians

Houston Astros Travis Blackley Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation

Los Angeles Scott Cousins Outrighted to Minors Angels

Los Angeles Placed on 15-Day DL, (Strained Dodgers left calf)

Los Angeles Tim Federowicz Called Up from Minors Dodgers

Los Angeles Jerry Hairston Starting to Serve Suspension Dodgers Jr.

Removed From 15-Day DL, Miami Marlins Joe Mahoney (Intercostal strain)

Recalled From Minors, Rehab Miami Marlins Joe Mahoney Assignment

Milwaukee Francisco Signed to a Minor League Contract Brewers Rodriguez

Minnesota Oswaldo Arcia Called Up from Minors Twins

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