The Arizona Diamondbacks secured a 8-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Saturday in spring training action. Yassel Soler paced the offense, going 1-for-1 with a home run and three RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Mitch Bratt worked 2.0 innings on the mound, allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits. The Diamondbacks finished with 13 hits on the day while holding the Angels to 8. It was an encouraging performance for the Diamondbacks as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Yassel Soler was the top performer at the plate, going 1-for-1 with a home run and three RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Diamondbacks offense.
Luken Baker provided support, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, Jorge Barrosa also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, and Jacob Amaya chipped in, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Zach Neto led the Angels offense with a 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI day. Travis d'Arnaud also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Adam Frazier added a 1-for-1 with an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Diamondbacks pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Mitch Bratt got the start, having a rough go of it, working 2.0 innings while allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits with three strikeouts. He threw 49 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 6.3 innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs while striking out eight. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Bryce Jarvis recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Philip Abner stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Angels got on the board first with two runs in the second inning. Angels pushed across a run in the third. The Diamondbacks struck back with two runs in the fourth. Angels answered with a run in the fourth. The Diamondbacks responded with a run in the fifth. Angels countered with a run in the seventh. The Diamondbacks struck back with five runs in the eighth. The Diamondbacks spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Diamondbacks out-hit Angels 13-8 on the day, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 7,445 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Diamondbacks, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Diamondbacks are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.