The Arizona Republic

Streaking to a 6th straight series win

D-Backs roll as feast on weak teams continues How will fans respond when team cools off?

- AZCENTRAL SPORTS AZCENTRAL SPORTS

NICK PIECORO

Their best player had the day off. Their ace started but had something of an off day. But the Diamondbac­ks, in a game that encapsulat­es the state of the National League, still steamrolle­d the Philadelph­ia Phillies on Monday afternoon.

Their 6-1 win gave them a fourgame series victory over what could be the worst team in baseball; perhaps the weekend’s most baffling developmen­t was how the Diamondbac­ks managed to lose one of the four games.

The Diamondbac­ks emerged from the offseason looking to hit on a series of small bets. They brought back the core from last year’s disappoint­ing team, revamped the coaching staff, added mostly around the edges and hoped for better health and better results. No one considered them all-in on trying to contend. See D-BACKS, Page 5C GREG MOORE

Diamondbac­ks utility man Chris Herrmann stepped to the plate Monday afternoon, hitting leadoff for the first time since the minors and despite a .182 average on the season.

He and Phillies starter Nick Pivetta battled to a 2-2 count before the righthande­r threw a 95-mph fastball, low and outside.

Herrmann sent the pitch about 380 feet to right-center field, where it splashed into the swimming pool – full of Philadelph­ia fans – for the first leadoff home run of his six-year career.

It’s the sort of thing the Diamondbac­ks have been doing all season and proof that the streaking ball club is bound to ease off this pace at some point. The questions are how much? And how will the team and fans respond when it happens? See MOORE, Page 3C

 ?? MICHAEL CHOW/AZCENTRAL SPORTS ??
MICHAEL CHOW/AZCENTRAL SPORTS
 ?? MICHAEL CHOW/AZCENTRAL SPORTS ??
MICHAEL CHOW/AZCENTRAL SPORTS

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