Geno’s hot and the D-backs get their first win of 2025!
Gonna toy around with a different recap format to start the year and see how it goes. Will give a brief summary of the game, then provide some points that existed ‘outside the box score’ to try and fill in some of the color from the game. Hope you enjoy!
Game Summary
The game was off to an inauspicious start with some sloppy fielding and erratic pitching leaving the Diamondbacks in an early 1-0 hole. Many in the GDT started seeing eery reminders of the game from the night before. Fortunately, this game turned around with the 5-6-7 hitters for the Diamondbacks; Pavin-Geno-Alek combined to go 8/12 for 5 Runs and 6 RBI. The second inning saw that trio lead off and put a quick 2 runs on the board before an out was recorded and the team didn’t look back from there.
An overall solid night from the pitching staff ensured this game wouldn’t be close, including a solid night from Merrill after a rocky first couple frames. The bullpen was lights out with contributions from Thompson, Mantiply, and 2 dominant innings from Shelby Miller!
Win Probability and Box Score
Outside the Box Score
- Torey Lovullo was ‘dressed up’ last night in his full uniform. Tonight, Lovullo returned to his normal garb of a team-branded T-shirt without jersey.
- 17 pitch first inning for Merrill. 7 of his first 11 pitches (still not through the second batter of the game) were called balls. After the 11th pitch, Merrill threw 2 consecutive pickoffs to first. The final 6 pitches Merrill threw were all strikes.
- First true “Walker would’ve made that play” moment of the season happened in the top of the 2nd. Gerry was credited with an error on a low throw that likely would’ve been scooped in years past.
- Kelly worked out of a jam in the 2nd. After giving up an RBI double to Pete Crow-Armstrong, there were runners at 2nd and 3rd with no out. Kelly induced two ground outs and a pop out to Perdomo to get out of the inning without allowing any further damage.
- Alek Thomas followed Geno’s second HR of the year with a ringing double off the wall. While Suarez hit his no-doubt homer 436 ft, AT hit his harder (107.5 mph EV) than Geno.
- Merrill walked PCA in the fourth. Gallen did the same thing last night and it resulted in a run scored after PCA stole second to get into scoring position. Tonight, Merrill did not make the same mistake. He immediately showcased his All-World pickoff move and sent the colorful Cubs centerfielder back to the dugout.
- After having 42 pitches through the first 2 innings and looking like Merrill would not be long for this game, he bounced back with a total of 21 pitches over the next 2 innings.
- For the second time in two tries, the Diamondback trio of Pavin-Geno-Thomas led off an inning with a hit-HR-double. The fourth inning version kept the train rolling when Gerry added an RBI single and Herrera laid down a Spring Training-perfect sac bunt to move Gerry into scoring position.
- Hat tip to Jesse Friedman via X with the nugget that Corbin Carroll’s line out to right in the 4th inning was the hardest hit ball of his career (115.7 mph) which was 2 mph harder than any hit previously in his career.
- Pavin is locked in. Exit velocities of 99.8, 103, and 107.4 in his first 3 ABs. His third at bat was his first with a runner on base and he cashed him in with a ground rule double smoked over the head of Kyle Tucker in right.
- Ryan Thompson was the first reliever of the night. All he did was come in and get 2 outs on 3 pitches to finish out the sixth.
- Geno ripped a ground ball down the third base line in the seventh that looked to be the start of an inning ending double play. Geno hustled up the line and beat out the second half of the throw to extend the inning for Alek Thomas who cashed in the extra opportunity with an RBI single.
- Shelby Miller came in and struck out the side in the 8th. After cruising through the first two hitters, I was hoping Shelby would unintentionally intentionally walk the third hitter to bring up the much anticipated matchup of Swanson v. Miller. Fortunately, Miller stayed in for the final frame and faced his old trademate. Swanson flew out on the first pitch he saw.
Player of the Game
Eugenio Suarez claims the crown on this night. He led all DBacks with a 28.4 WPA and had 2 monster homers and a third long fly ball that was caught at the wall. He’s on a hot streak right now and I’m excited to see how long this one will last.
Honorable Mentions to the other members of Geno’s trio tonight (Pavin and Alek) as well as to Merrill Kelly for steadying the ship early on.
Comment of the Night
A very well attended GDT tonight, eclipsing last night’s total, with a total of 355 comments at time of publishing. The first COTN of the 2025 season goes to our fearless leader, Jim McClennan for his quick math regarding Geno’s hot start to the season:
He just edged out Dano_in_Tucson who made a similar observation, but just moments later so Jim ended up with the extra rec. Be better, Dano!
Coming Up
The D-Backs face the Cubs in the third game of this four game set tomorrow at 5:10pm Arizona time. Newly extended Brandon Pfaadt is the probable starter for the D-backs tomorrow, and he’ll be opposed by the Cubs’ southpaw Tokyo Series opener starter, Shota Imanaga.