Corbin Carroll’s late-game heroics and a disciplined approach at the plate have fueled Arizona’s five-game surge. Now, the surging Diamondbacks must prove their patient formula can outlast division rivals.
Down to their final out, the Arizona Diamondbacks still found a way to extend their winning streak against the Colorado Rockies.
Colorado put up a late run in the eighth inning, but Corbin Carroll played hero as he made the Rockies pay for an 85 mph sweeper that caught the heart of the plate.
Not only was it Carroll's only hit of the game, but it was the Diamondbacks' lone hit in scoring position. Had the 25-year-old Carroll not called game in the ninth, Arizona would've gone into extra innings hitless in 10 plate appearances with a runner in scoring position.
Ketel Marte stayed hot as he had two of the team's four hits, and also drew one of their eight walks. When it comes to finding a winning formula, Arizona has done just that.
Diamondbacks Have Been Extremely Patient
Baseball is all about waiting for the right pitch, and the Diamondbacks didn't see much they liked in game one of the Rockies series. In total, six batters recorded a walk as they finished the night with eight. In their last three games, they've drawn 13 walks.
Arizona has found a patient approach at the plate that makes everything easier. Their plan almost backfired as 1-for-9 with RISP is an absolute nightmare. But, not even leaving 10 runners on base was enough to end their five-game winning streak.
The Diamondbacks are now 26-23, marking the first time they're three games over .500 since April 29, when they were 16-13. Knowing this team has three more games against the Rockies and then three more against the San Francisco Giants, it's safe to say they're sitting pretty.
The Time to Gain Ground is Now
There are 162 games in a regular season, but every single one matters. Arizona is now just 4 1/2 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers. While they still need the Dodgers to lose to gain ground, Arizona knows this is the ideal stretch to stack up wins against the two worst teams in the NL West.
As for whether or not this winning streak is sustainable, only time will tell. Marte has been on a heater and Carroll's average sits at .282. The Diamondbacks were thrilled with Eduardo Rodriguez's seven-inning start as pitching has also been a huge part of this stretch. In their last four games, Arizona hasn't allowed more than three runs.
The Diamondbacks welcome the Dodgers to Chase Field at the start of June for a four-game series, so that'll be the true test as to whether or not this team has what it takes to not only return to the playoffs, but the World Series.
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