D-Backs on streak unseen for 111 years

If you haven’t paid attention to baseball, you might be surprised to learn the Arizona Diamondbacks have the best record in the National League.

With Saturday’s 4-3 victory in 10 innings against the Washington Nationals, Arizona improved to 19-7, which matched the franchise’s best start through 26 games.

The Diamondbacks made the playoffs last season, and they have the talent to be contenders. But no one saw them achieving a feat of success that hasn’t been equaled in 111 years.

Saturday’s victory against Washington guaranteed Arizona its ninth consecutive series victory to begin the season. The last National League team to open the season with nine consecutive series wins? The 1907 Chicago Cubs.

That Cubs team would go on to win 11 consecutive series to open the season. That’s the MLB record. Those Cubs would also go on to win a World Series that season, and then again in 1908.

The Diamondbacks aren’t thinking that far ahead. Their March and April schedule looked challenging on paper, but they’ve managed to win series against the Rockies, Dodgers (twice), Giants (twice), Cardinals, Padres, Phillies and now the Nationals.

“It just means that we’re doing a lot of things right and we’re a good baseball team,” Manager Torey Lovullo said about Arizona’s streak. “We’re excited about that. We know that we’re having a lot of success and it takes a different approach day by day. We’re always ready to play and perform.”

It’s most impressive that Arizona is handling its business inside the division. Six of their series wins have come against division foes. They’ve dominated the Dodgers too, winning five of their six April matchups.

That’s notable because the Dodgers are still the team to beat in the NL West after clinching their fifth consecutive division title last season. It’s also notable because it’s the Dodgers that Arizona will welcome to town today for the beginning of a four-game series.

If Arizona keeps the streak alive there, the World Series champion Houston Astros will be in town next weekend for three games. Then it’s the Dodgers again for two in Los Angeles.

If Arizona is to break this record, it will definitely earn it.

AP/NICK WASS David Peralta (right) celebrates his home run with Jarrod Dyson during the Diamondbacks’ 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The victory ensured the Diamondbacks opened the season with nine...