SportsSports Blogs Local

Actions

Diamondbacks win, take back division lead from Dodgers

Diamondbacks win, take back division lead from Dodgers
Posted at 9:39 PM, Jul 31, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-01 00:46:56-04

Tuesday was a very good day for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Hours after acquiring a pair of relief pitchers via trades,the D-backs defeated the Texas Rangers 6-0 on Tuesday night at Chase Field. Just minutes after that game ended, the Los Angeles Dodgers fell 1-0 to the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, allowing the D-backs to leapfrog the Dodgers and reclaim the lead in the National League West division -- a lead they have enjoyed for most of the season.

The Colorado Rockies also won Tuesday to remain within one-half game of the D-backs and pull even with the Dodgers in the NL West. The D-backs are looking to advance to the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2001-02.

The D-backs defeated the Rangers behind pitcher Zack Godley's best outing of the season. On Tuesday, Godley became the first pitcher in 44 years to strike out the first batter he faced in each of a game's first seven innings. He threw seven shutout innings and earned a season-high 10 strikeouts in the victory.

The D-backs acquired righthanded relief pitcher Brad Ziegler, who pitched for the D-backs from 2011-16, and lefthanded reliever Jake Diekman right before Tuesday's trade deadline. Ziegler had already been named to the D-backs' 20th Anniversary team, and Diekman, who pitched for the Rangers against the D-backs on Monday, rode the D-backs' bullpen cart to his new team's clubhouse.

The D-backs are off Wednesday and will begin a four-game home series vs. the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.