NO-NO, NOT YET

Last week our beloved Arizona Diamondbacks won back-to-back 7-inning games in a double header, shutting out the Atlanta Braves in both games. In game one Zac Gallen allowed only one hit; in the second game Madison Bumgarner pitched a "no hitter" (not recorded as such, because it wasn't a nine-inning game). As a result, the Snakes offered $14 tickets this Friday and Saturday, in honor of the 14 innings of shutout baseball.

I would have liked it even better had they offered $7 tickets for Bumgarner's seven no-hit innings, but I guess that's pushing my luck. In any case, The Wife and I decided to avail ourselves of the offer, and took our fully-vaccinated selves to Chase Field, for the first time in nearly two years, to enjoy some live baseball.

Here was the view from our third-base-side nosebleeders...

Not far from our seats was a display featuring the jerseys that Gallen and Bumgarner wore in their wins last week, and I was handed a sign asking MLB to "Make It Count" (Bumgarner's no-no, that is) and encouraged to pose with the jerseys; I did not shirk...

Superb as both pitchers were, I obviously can see the viewpoint that it isn't the same achievement as a nine-inning no-hitter. My own eagerly-sought opinion is that if seven inning double headers are going to become a regular thing, than the Seven-Inning No-Hitter should be officially established, and Bumgarner's should be recognized.

Alas, the game didn't go as well as those two last week. Starter Gallen did not, to put it mildly, have his best stuff against the Rockies last night, getting into much trouble with walks, etc. The bullpen fared even more miserably, especially poor Matt Peacock, who gave up seven runs, including a grand slam by Dom Nunez, in the 8th inning. The final was 14-6. Groan!

There weren't many highlights for D-backs fans, although Andy Young hit a homer off the bench, and Josh Rojas belted one out in the ninth, to keep his streak going. Best of all, when the Rockies pulled away, the D-backs sent position players out to pitch: that terrific old warhorse Asdrubal Cabrera in the eighth inning, and young Wyatt Mathisen in the ninth. Some of their pitches registered less than 50 miles per hour, but they didn't really do any worse than the bullpen: they each gave up a hit, but got their men out.

I should also note there were personal highlights for us: Early on the roof was opened, and it was lovely to enjoy the pleasant breeze of a spring night downtown. Also, while I was away for a ridiculous amount of time, standing in a long line to buy pop, a nice young couple down the row sweetly gave the poor abandoned Wife a churro, which she shared with me when I got back. Yummy!

And, nice to see Baxter masked up and looking out for us...