Gurriel’s HR, 4 hits back Henry’s strong start
Here are three takeaways from the sport:
Gurriel has been a key pickup
When the D-backs dealt outfielder Daulton Varsho to the Blue Jays in December, a lot of the eye on the return centered round catcher Gabriel Moreno, a prime prospect on the time. Not a lot was stated about Gurriel, who was one season away from free company.
And whereas Moreno has been excellent for the D-backs each on the plate and behind it, Gurriel has been a monster offensively for Arizona.
With his huge night time, which included a homer to steer off the second inning, Gurriel has now hit safely in a career-high 15 video games and his eight homers are second on the crew.
“First of all, he’s just a good hitter who’s fun to watch,” D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo stated. “I’m a big fan of his because of the approach. He’s on every pitch. He gets a slider probably middle-up, middle-in and hits it for the big home run. It doesn’t surprise me, he’s capable of doing anything.”
Gurriel has a .938 OPS, and thru the primary seven video games of the D-backs’ three-city street journey, Gurriel is slashing .379/.438/.759.
“I feel good, I’m just looking to maintain those results,” Gurriel stated by way of interpreter Alex Arpiza.
It’s a great time for Henry to be pitching nicely
Henry allowed a pair of solo homers in 5 2/3 innings to show in his third good outing in his previous 4 begins.
“I thought we chased a little bit too much tonight,” Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson stated. “[Henry’s] changeup on the right-handers was efficient, and so was his breaking ball.”
When Davies returns, one of many rookies will lose his spot, so every of their outings proper now could be essential. For a supervisor, having these sorts of robust selections to make is an effective factor, nevertheless it’s additionally difficult.
“I don’t want any decision on these guys to be easy,” Lovullo stated. “We haven’t really entered into that department yet, but I know it’s inevitable that Davies will be returning.”
The D-backs have been relentless on the plate
There have been occasions the previous few seasons when the D-backs would rating runs early in a sport after which the offense would go stagnant for innings on finish. This 12 months, although, they’ve continued to tack on runs all through a sport.
Monday night time was an instance of that. The D-backs bought three runs within the second, and after the Phillies scored two within the fourth to trim the lead, the offense responded straight away by scoring a run within the fifth earlier than including one other insurance coverage run within the eighth and ninth innings.
“It’s not allowing [the Phillies] to have a shutdown inning,” Lovullo stated. “I think it’s a very important part of competition, when you know the team across from you doesn’t shut down, and we never do.”
It’s a attribute that different groups discover and wish to emulate.
“You’ve got to battle, put the ball and play and put the pressure on them,” Phillies shortstop Trea Turner stated. “I feel that is what we have seen in video games we have misplaced. Those groups are laborious to strike out. They put some good at-bats tonight with two strikes and made some issues occur.”
