NLCS-bound D'backs were armed to advance
08.10.2007 21:00
Sport and Travel
- Source: USA Today
CHICAGO — While many picked them for fourth in the National League West heading into the season, the Arizona Diamondbacks recognized they had one element that could help offset their inexperience in the batting order.
Pitching. "If you told me we were going to the NLCS, I would have told you, 'Wow,' " said outfielder Eric Byrnes, still in full uniform nearly an hour after the upstart Diamondbacks completed a sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series on Saturday. "I would have been a little surprised, but I wouldn't have been shocked. How can you know what to expect when you have a bunch of rookies coming in and starting? We knew we had three veteran starters and would get quality outings out of them." "We knew our experience was where it mattered most," added first baseman Tony Clark. "On the mound." Arizona starters Brandon Webb, Doug Davis and Livan Hernandez each recorded a victory in the series and the bullpen didn't allow a run in the three-game dismantling of the Cubs. The team trailed for only one-half inning the entire series — scoring four runs in the bottom of the second of Game 2 after Chicago took a 2-0 lead in the top of the inning. "I don't think there's anything that surprised me (about them). Good pitching and an unbelievable bullpen — obviously one of the big reasons they led the league in wins," Chicago second baseman Mark DeRosa said. Arizona, which posted the best record in the NL this year (90-72) and reached the NL Championship Series for the second time in its 10-year history, opens the best-of-seven series against the Colorado Rockies in Phoenix on Thursday. The postseason formula was the same one the Diamondbacks relied on all year. Even without Randy Johnson, who was limited to 10 starts by injury, the starting rotation was consistent. Webb (18-10), Davis (13-12) and Hernandez (11-11) combined for a total of 60 quality starts in the regular season and continued the steady performance in the sweep of the Cubs. "Those are going to win ballgames. We keep it close," Davis said of the quality starts, noting the Diamondbacks' 32 victories in one-run games. "That's the difference between division champs and not." In the playoffs, Webb and Hernandez recorded quality starts. Davis left to a standing ovation with a 6-2 lead with two outs and two men on in the sixth of Game 2, but reliever Juan Cruz allowed the two inherited runners to score. Daryle Ward's double against Cruz was the only damage the Cubs could do against the bullpen. Tony Pena, Brandon Lyon and closer Jose Valverde— who handle innings 7, 8 and 9 — allowed no runs on four hits over eight innings in the series. "Our bullpen has been lights-out," Davis said. "Once we get to the fifth or sixth inning, we have total confidence in whoever we put out there." The young lineup finished last in the NL in hitting, but scrapped out runs with speed (fifth in stolen bases), solid fundamentals and middle-of-the-pack power (tied for seventh in home runs with 171). "We understand how to play the game," said outfielder Chris Young, who homered on the first pitch Saturday to put Arizona in control. "We play hard. We put a lot of pressure on the other team with our baserunning and the way we play the game." "Give them all the credit in the world. They came out and played great baseball and beat up on us," Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee said. Said Byrnes, "Before the series started, nobody (outside the team) expected anything. It was 'Wow, the Cubs drew a great matchup. This is their year.' Apparently not." But it may be Arizona's.
| 
Add comment