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Daily Clips July 29, 2014

LOCAL

Ahmed's RBI single wins it for D-backs in 15 Anderson goes seven solid innings as six pitchers limit Reds to six hits By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_07_28_arimlb_cinmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=ari

D-backs lose challenge after fan catches foul ball Gibson makes request in ninth claiming interference on play down right-field line By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/d-backs-lose-challenge-after-fan-catches-foul-ball-in-ninth-inning-vs-reds?ymd=20140728&content_id=86779928&vkey=news_ari

Hill out of starting lineup, but hand on mend By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140728&content_id=86730910&notebook_id=86730230&vkey=notebook_ari&c_id=ari

Reds turn to Leake to get back on winning track Cahill gets call for D-backs in search of second victory of season By Alex Halsted / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_07_29_arimlb_cinmlb_1&mode=preview

Kirk Gibson wants MLB review of home-plate play By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/29/kirk-gibson-wants-mlb-review-home-plate-play/13306761/

Diamondbacks top the Reds in 15 innings By Associated Press / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/28/arizona-diamondbacks-cincinnati-reds-game-1/13266887/

4:10 p.m.: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Cincinnati Reds azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/29/arizona-diamondbacks-cincinnati-reds-game-2/13313797/

Diamondbacks at Reds on FOX Sports Arizona By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/tag/arizona-diamondbacks

Confusing plate-blocking rule has Montero longing for collision days

By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/confusing-plate-blocking-rule-has-montero-longing-for-collision-days-072814

Jody's search for a cheesesteak By Jody Jackson / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/video/jody-s-search-for-a-cheesesteak-072814?vid=312695875718

Diamondbacks reinstate Jordan Pacheco, release Nick Evans Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1753979/Diamondbacks-reinstate-Jordan-Pacheco-release-Nick-Evans

Report: Diamondbacks willing to move closer Addison Reed Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1754065/Report-Diamondbacks-willing-to-move-closer-Addison-Reed

Rookie makes difference in Diamondbacks' marathon win over Reds: By The Numbers By Andrew Gilstrap / Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1754097/Rookie-makes-difference-in-Diamondbacks-marathon-win-over-Reds-By-The-Numbers

ESPN insider Keith Law breaks down D-backs' tradeable assets By Vince Marotta / Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1754219/ESPN-insider-Keith-Law-breaks-down-Dbacks-tradeable-assets

At Cooperstown, McKay honors La Russa By Mark Brown / Examiner http://www.examiner.com/article/at-cooperstown-mckay-honors-la-russa

Different role for Patrick Peterson, Miguel Montero involved in controversy plus NFL talk with Clark Judge & Paola Boivin By Brad Cesmat / Sports360AZ http://www.sports360az.com/2014/07/different-role-patrick-peterson-miguel-montero-involved-controversy-plus-nfl-talk-clark-judge-paola-boivin/

Hansen: D'backs snuffing life out of former fans By Greg Hansen / Arizona Daily Star http://tucson.com/sports/columnists/hansen/hansen-d-backs-snuffing-life-out-of-former-fans/article_bbb6c7be-44f0-5baa-a7d8-069898a397a7.html

Did D-backs Erase Demons With Aces’ Brawl? By Bob Goodwood / Modern Times Magazine

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http://www.moderntimesmagazine.com/page18/Sports_Dbacks_Brawl_140728/Sports_Dbacks_Brawl_140728.php

NATIONAL

Chapman turns up the heat against D-backs Closer tops 100 mph on 15 pitches, including once at 104 and five at 103 By Manny Randhawa / MLB.com http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article/cin/reds-closer-aroldis-chapman-threw-15-pitches-at-or-above-101-mph-monday?ymd=20140729&content_id=86822504&vkey=news_cin

Class of 2014 basking in glow of big weekend Once-in-a-lifetime experience leaves new Hall of Famers with great memories By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140728&content_id=86706220&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

Diamondbacks-Reds Preview By STATS / ESPN http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=340729117

Slumping Reds strike out 18 times in bat-breaking loss to D-backs By Mike Oz / Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/slumping-reds-strike-out-18-times-in-bat-breaking-loss-to-d-backs-063743438.html

Sandy Alderson: Don't recall talking with Tony La Russa about possibly juiced A's By Tom Gatto / Sporting News http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2014-07-28/sandy-alderson-mets-gm-responds-tony-la-russa-oakland-a-s-steroids-peds-mark-mcgwire-jose-canseco

Young Reds fan reaches to catch foul, but no call By Ben Goldschmidt / cincinnati.com http://www.cincinnati.com/story/redsblog/2014/07/28/young-reds-fan-catches-todd-frazier-foul-ball-no-interference-call/13304715/

Hillsboro Hops, Arizona Diamondbacks build up gardens, morale at Albertina Kerr homes (photos) By Dean Baker / Oregonian http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro-hops/index.ssf/2014/07/hillsboro_hops_arizona_diamond.html

Ahmed's RBI Single Propels D-backs To 2-1 Win Over Reds In 15 Innings By Josh Garcia / Vavel http://www.vavel.com/en-us/mlb/374093-ahmed-s-rbi-single-propels-d-backs-to-2-1-win-over-reds-in-15-innings.html

Reds lose 15-inning marathon against Diamondbacks By John Fay / Cincinnati Enquirer http://www.pal-item.com/article/20140728/SPORTS/140729001

Continued surge could put Miami Marlins in buy mode for a starting pitcher

By Clark Spencer / Miami Herald http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/27/4258443/continued-surge-could-put-miami.html

Diamondbacks edge Reds in 15th inning By Jeff Wallner (The Sports Xchange) / Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/news/diamondbacks-2-reds-1-15-040116912--mlb.html

ARIZONA AT CINCINNATI CBS Sports http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/preview/MLB_20140729_ARI@CIN/diamondbacks-reds-preview

Recap: Cincinnati vs. Arizona By Sports Network / The State http://www.thestate.com/2014/07/29/3589312/recap-cincinnati-vs-arizona.html

Not much more to say as Reds lose 2-1 in 15 innings By Kevin Goheen / FOX Sports Ohio http://www.foxsports.com/ohio/story/not-much-more-to-say-as-reds-lose-2-1-in-15-innings-072914

D-backs activate Pacheco By Sports Network / Athlon Sports http://athlonsports.com/mlb/d-backs-activate-pacheco

Nationals trade rumors as deadline nears BY ADAM KILGORE / The Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2014/07/28/nationals-trade-rumors-as-deadline-nears/

Reds offense continues to sputter in 15 inning loss By Joe Danneman / WXIX http://www.fox19.com/story/26135346/reds-offense-continues-to-sputter-in-15-inning-loss

RENO ACES

Aces use big inning to down Isotopes By Staff / Reno Gazette-Journal http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/2014/07/29/aces-use-big-inning-isotopes/13307451/

Brewer's big night leads Aces to win Reno starter goes eight scoreless innings in win By Chad Seely and Chris Dierken / Reno Aces http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140729&content_id=86831564&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t2310

MOBILE BAYBEARS

Watch the massive minor league baseball brawl that resulted in 10 ejections By Creg Stephenson / AL.com http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/07/watch_the_massive_minor_league.html

VISALIA RAWHIDE

Rawhide Hold Off Bakersfield for 12th Straight Win Visalia Rawhide http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140729&content_id=86831782&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t516&sid=t516

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SOUTH BEND SILVER HAWKS

HILLSBORO HOPS

Hillsboro scores early and often on way to win By Preston Toulon / Hillsboro Hops http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140729&content_id=86829320&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t419

Hillsboro Hops blow by Boise Hawks, 6-1 By Andrew Nemec / Oregonian http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro-hops/index.ssf/2014/07/hillsboro_hops_blow_by_boise_h.html#incart_river

MISSOULA OSPREY

Six Runs Allowed In First Doom Osprey Justin Williams One Game Away From Tying Missoula Hit Streak Record Missoula Osprey http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140729&content_id=86822402&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t518

NATIONAL

MLB NEWS July 29, 2014 • MLB.com http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_index.jsp ASSOCIATED PRESS July 29, 2014 • Sports.yahoo.com http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews MLB TRANSACTIONS July 29, 2014 • MLB.com http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

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LOCAL

Ahmed's RBI single wins it for D-backs in 15 Anderson goes seven solid innings as six pitchers limit Reds to six hits By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_07_28_arimlb_cinmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=ari CINCINNATI -- Nick Ahmed's two-out single to left-center proved to be the game-winner as the D-backs outlasted the Reds, 2-1, in 15 innings Monday night at Great American Ball Park. Martin Prado started the rally when he drew a one-out walk from J.J. Hoover, who was in his second inning of relief. Prado moved to second on a groundout by Didi Gregorius and he came around when Ahmed drove a single to left-center. The hit made a winner of reliever Oliver Perez (1-1), while Hoover fell to 1-8. Both starting pitchers probably deserved a win for their efforts, but were long gone when the game was decided. D-backs rookie Chase Anderson allowed one run on three hits while matching a career-high in strikeouts with eight over his seven innings of work. Meanwhile Reds right-hander Homer Bailey allowed one run on five hits in eight innings. The Reds got on the board first when Devin Mesoraco led off the second inning with a home run to left. It looked like the Reds might add on during the inning when Brayan Pena doubled with one out and Kristopher Negron followed with a single to center. Cincinnati third-base coach waved Pena home on the single and Ender Inciarte's throw to the plate easily nailed Pena. The D-backs tied the game in the fourth when Mark Trumbo doubled to right-center and Miguel Montero followed with a single off the right-field wall. It was not a night for offenses as the Reds fanned 18 times and the D-backs 12 while both teams managed a combined 14 hits over the 15 innings.

D-backs lose challenge after fan catches foul ball Gibson makes request in ninth claiming interference on play down right-field line By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/d-backs-lose-challenge-after-fan-catches-foul-ball-in-ninth-inning-vs-reds?ymd=20140728&content_id=86779928&vkey=news_ari CINCINNATI -- The D-backs lost a manager's challenge in the ninth inning during Monday night's game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

With one out and a 1-1 count, the Reds' Todd Frazier hit a fly ball down the right-field line. David Peralta raced towards the wall and a fan reached over the wall and caught the ball. After discussing the play with first-base umpire Chris Guccione, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson challenged the call, claiming that Frazier should be ruled out on fan interference. Following a review, the play stood as called, meaning that there was not clear and convincing evidence to overturn the call. Frazier went on to strike out later in the at-bat.

Hill out of starting lineup, but hand on mend By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140728&content_id=86730910&notebook_id=86730230&vkey=notebook_ari&c_id=ari CINCINNATI -- Aaron Hill was out of the lineup for the second straight game on Monday, but the D-backs' second baseman said his bruised right hand was feeling better and he anticipated being available to pinch-hit if needed. Hill was hit by a pitch on the right hand on Saturday night and left the game an inning later when he was unable to grip a bat. "Good enough," Hill said, when asked how the hand feels when he swings. "It's better than it was yesterday, so that was good, but they felt one more day would be better. If they need me to do something tonight, if I need to hit tonight, I'll hit tonight." X-rays taken of the hand Saturday night were negative. D-backs release Evans, activate Pacheco CINCINNATI -- The D-backs placed Nick Evans on unconditional release waivers, clearing the way for him to sign with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan. The move had been rumored for a couple of days after being reported by mlbtraderumors.com. To take Evans' place on the roster, the D-backs activated Jordan Pacheco, who had been on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis. "Shoulder feels great, it feels really good," Pacheco said. "Hopefully I can help these guys out and we can win some games." Worth noting • D-backs shortstop Chris Owings is still at least two to three weeks away from returning to action, as his injured shoulder has not improved enough to allow him to take live batting practice. "Nothing new on him," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "It is what it is. When it's time to move him to the next step, we

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will. He's picked up his activity a little bit. But he has not taken live BP yet." Owings has been on the disabled list since June 26 with what was diagnosed as a left shoulder strain. "The diagnosis hasn't changed," Gibson said. • Injured infielder Cliff Pennington has been on a rehab assignment with the organization's entry in the rookie Arizona League. Pennington is scheduled to move to Triple-A Reno on Saturday. • Injured outfielder A.J. Pollock is scheduled to take live batting practice off rehabbing pitcher Daniel Hudson on Tuesday and then Pollock will start a stint in the Arizona League. • Gibson said that Reno pitcher Kameron Loe sustained a broken right hand during Reno's fracas with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate on Saturday.

Reds turn to Leake to get back on winning track Cahill gets call for D-backs in search of second victory of season By Alex Halsted / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_07_29_arimlb_cinmlb_1&mode=preview After losing nine of the first 10 games out of the All-Star break, including a 15-inning heartbreaker on Monday night, the Reds find themselves looking up at three teams in the National League Central. The time to recover, if postseason play is in their future, won't be long. "I think it's a matter of time, but it's getting late," Reds outfielder Skip Schumaker said. "We need to start rolling and I don't think we're far off. It's just one big hit here or there, and we'll get rolling." Despite the downturn to start the season's second half, the Reds sit only six games back of the division-leading Brewers. To begin a trend of winning, the Reds will rely on Mike Leake on Tuesday against the D-backs. Leake, who will be searching for his 50th career victory, posted a 2.16 ERA in six starts during May, but has watched his numbers climb since. In his last 10 starts spanning June and July, Leake has posted a 4.71 ERA and surrendered four or more runs in six of the 10 starts. The D-backs will oppose Leake with Trevor Cahill, who is currently working through struggles of his own. The right-hander left pitches up in his last start against Detroit, lasting four innings while allowing seven runs (three earned). "For the most part I felt pretty good," Cahill said after the start. "I just left some pitches up and a team like that is going to hurt you." That is the current theme for the Reds, who believe the product on the field is better than the results have offered of late.

"We have to play better as a team," Reds outfielder Jay Bruce said. "I wouldn't say 'have-to,' but this is a time where we really do need to turn it around and start winning some games and play how we expect to play. We put higher expectations on ourselves than anyone on the outside can. So we know we've been underachieving and we're doing everything we can to turn it around." D-backs: Hill out of lineup, but hand improving Aaron Hill was out of the lineup for the second straight game on Monday, but the D-backs' second baseman said his bruised right hand was feeling better and he anticipated being available to pinch-hit if needed. Hill was hit by a pitch on the right hand on Saturday night and left the game an inning later when he was unable to grip a bat. "Good enough," Hill said, when asked how the hand feels when he swings. "It's better than it was yesterday, so that was good, but they felt one more day would be better. If they need me to do something tonight, if I need to hit tonight, I'll hit tonight." X-rays taken of the hand Saturday night were negative. Reds: Frazier singing different tune at plate Todd Frazier changed things up a bit during the Reds' weekend series against the Nationals, in which Cincinnati dropped two of three games. But the tweak wasn't to his batting stance; it was to his walkup music. "My brother had a good one," Frazier said Sunday of one of the songs that was under final consideration to replace Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon." He proceeded to give the reporters around his locker a rendition. "It was by P. Diddy, 'Bad Boys for Life.'" Frazier decided to stick with a Sinatra classic: "The Best is Yet to Come," a choice that would seem to indicate the hope that a new song would be the forerunner to a reversal in the Reds' fortunes. Worth noting • Bruce batted second in the starting lineup on Monday vs. Arizona. It was his first time hitting second since batting there six times in 2011. The right fielder went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and two walks there Monday. • Arizona manager Kirk Gibson needs one win to tie Bob Melvin (337) for the most victories in club history.

Kirk Gibson wants MLB review of home-plate play By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/29/kirk-gibson-wants-mlb-review-home-plate-play/13306761/ CINCINNATI – Manager Kirk Gibson knows there's no way to change the call at home plate that cost the Diamondbacks a run on Sunday in Philadelphia, but he hopes Major League Baseball can review the play to help ensure something similar doesn't happen again.

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In the seventh inning on Sunday, the Phillies' Ryan Howard was awarded home after Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero was ruled to have been blocking home plate while awaiting a throw from center fielder Ender Inciarte. Prior to Monday's game, Gibson opened his laptop and showed reporters a camera angle — from high up behind home plate — that made it appear as if Montero did nothing wrong. Before Inciarte unleashed the throw, Montero set up just in front of home plate. Once the ball was in the air, Montero stepped in front of the plate to catch it. "I talked to somebody from the league today," Gibson said. "We'll submit this for the sake of — the play is over, but if they're thinking about a regulation or a new rule, they have to take a play like this into consideration. "I would hope it would help clarify the regulations. It's a unique situation. And if they're not looking at this angle, I think they should be." Gibson said the replays that aired on television cut to Montero after he had shifted from in front of the plate, making it appear as though he were blocking it the entire time. "I don't think Miggy could do anything differently," Gibson said. "It's a pure reaction play. … It's not like he can stand there and not react to (the throw). He had to react to it. It took him into the lane." Injury updates Shortstop Chris Owings (shoulder) still isn't swinging a bat, Gibson said, meaning he remains at least two to three weeks away from returning. When Owings went on the disabled list June 25, the club did not anticipate he would miss a month, let alone the month and a half he now seems certain to miss. "When guys get hurt, you don't know," Gibson said. "You project how you think it's going to come out. Sometimes it doesn't work out that way." Gibson said the "diagnosis hasn't changed" with Owings' injury, which is being called a left-shoulder strain. Infielder Cliff Pennington and center fielder A.J. Pollock, both of whom are recovering from hand injuries, are making progress. Pennington will continue a rehab assignment in the Arizona League before shifting to Triple-A Reno on Saturday, Gibson said. Pollock, who appears to be slightly behind Pennington, will face right-hander Daniel Hudson in a live batting-practice session Tuesday and could report to Reno next week. Short hop The Diamondbacks reinstated utilityman Jordan Pacheco from the 15-day disabled list. To make room, infielder/outfielder Nick Evans was placed on unconditional-release waivers. Evans is

expected to leave Tuesday for Japan, where he will play for the Rakuten Golden Eagles, which gave him a guaranteed deal through the rest of this season with a team option for next year. • Second baseman Aaron Hill was out of the lineup for a second consecutive day after being hit by a pitch on the right hand on Saturday. Both Gibson and Hill expect him to return to the lineup Tuesday. • The Diamondbacks dispatched a scout to free-agent Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo's showcase on Saturday at the University of Miami, but the club does not appear to have strong interest in him.

Diamondbacks top the Reds in 15 innings By Associated Press / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/28/arizona-diamondbacks-cincinnati-reds-game-1/13266887/ CINCINNATI (AP) — Nick Ahmed's RBI single with two outs in the 15th inning sent the Diamondbacks to a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night and kept their franchise perfect when games go really long. Arizona is 13-0 all-time in games of at least 15 innings. Ahmed's single off J.J. Hoover (1-8) gave the Reds their ninth loss in 10 games since the All-Star break, a slump that has dropped them below .500 for the first time since June 21. The offense has been the problem, scoring only 17 runs in those 10 games, by far the fewest in the majors. Oliver Perez (1-1) gave up a hit and a walk in two innings. Addison Reed got his 25th save in 30 chances. Cincinnati's Aroldis Chapman fanned the side in the ninth, extending his major league record for a reliever to 44 consecutive games with at least one strikeout. One of his pitches was clocked at 104 mph. Devin Mesoraco led off the second with his 17th homer off rookie Chase Anderson, ending a streak of three straight games at Great American without a homer — the longest in the ballpark's 12 seasons. Miguel Montero singled home the tying run in the fourth off Homer Bailey, who gave up five hits in eight innings. Anderson allowed three hits and matched his career high with eight strikeouts in seven innings, retiring the last 11 batters he faced. Arizona right fielder David Peralta saved a run in the fourth with a diving, backhand catch of Brayan Pena's fly ball. He doubled up Chris Heisey at first base. Up Next D-Backs at Reds When: Tuesday, 4:10 p.m. Where: Great American Ball Park.

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TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM 620, KMVP-FM 98.7, KSUN-AM 1400. Pitching matchup: Diamondbacks RHP Trevor Cahill (1-7, 5.72) vs. Reds RHP Mike Leake (7-9, 3.73). Notable: Cahill has made two starts since returning to the rotation. The first one was somewhat decent, the next one not so much. In the second start, which came against the Tigers, he gave up seven runs (three earned) in four innings. … Leake has given up four earned runs in each of his past three starts. Since the start of June, his ERA has jumped from 2.92 to 3.73. Leake has a 5.84 ERA in six career starts against the Diamondbacks. Upcoming pitchers: Wednesday: At Cincinnati, 9:35 a.m., Diamondbacks LHP Wade Miley (6-7, 4.34) vs. Reds RHP Alfredo Simon (12-5, 2.86). Thursday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Josh Collmenter (8-5, 4.03) vs. Pirates LHP Jeff Locke (2-2, 3.54). Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Vidal Nuño (0-2, 3.47) vs. Pirates RHP Edinson Volquez (8-7, 3.87).

4:10 p.m.: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Cincinnati Reds azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/29/arizona-diamondbacks-cincinnati-reds-game-2/13313797/ Up next: D-Backs at Reds When: Tuesday, 4:10 p.m. Where: Great American Ball Park. TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM 620, KMVP-FM 98.7, KSUN-AM 1400. Pitching matchup: Diamondbacks RHP Trevor Cahill (1-7, 5.72) vs. Reds RHP Mike Leake (7-9, 3.73). Notable: Cahill has made two starts since returning to the rotation. The first one was somewhat decent, the next one not so much. In the second start, which came against the Tigers, he gave up seven runs (three earned) in four innings. … Leake has given up four earned runs in each of his past three starts. Since the start of June, his ERA has jumped from 2.92 to 3.73. Leake has a 5.84 ERA in six career starts against the Diamondbacks.

Diamondbacks at Reds on FOX Sports Arizona By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/tag/arizona-diamondbacks (SLIDESHOW EMBEDDED)

Confusing plate-blocking rule has Montero longing for collision days By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/confusing-plate-blocking-rule-has-montero-longing-for-collision-days-072814

Given his druthers, Miguel Montero says he'd rather be run over by 250-pound Ryan Howard than try to figure out exactly how the heck he's supposed to position himself on a throw to home plate. Montero's frustration with a new rule designed to minimize home-plate collisions boiled over following a play in the Diamondbacks' 4-2 loss to the Phillies on Sunday in Philadelphia. Here's how it unfolded: With two outs and Howard on first base in a 2-2 game, Philadelphia's Marlon Byrd hit a towering, routine popup into short right-center field. Byrd spiked his bat in disgust, but second baseman Didi Gregorius dropped the ball for an error, starting a chain of events that led to a run scoring and a 4-2 loss. Howard, running on the play, attempted to score, but center fielder Ender Inciarte's throw on the fly to Montero standing at home was there in plenty of time. Howard did not attempt to slide, instead skirting to the first base side before being tagged out for the apparent last out of the inning. That's where it got hinky. Howard and Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg complained, and the umpires initiated a review of the play with an eye on the new rule regarding plays at the plate. After a two-minute, 55-second review, home plate umpire and crew chief Dale Scott ruled that Montero had illegally placed himself in the path of the runner and called Howard safe. Howard scored without touching the plate. Gibson argued, but the call stood. "What am I supposed to do?'" Montero said he told the umpires. "Just stand there where I needed to be and let the ball go, or should I go and get it? "The throw took me there. I went and got the ball. I have no clue where to go on this kind of a play. I'd much rather be killed. I'd much rather be run over. It's an awkward rule. Let the game alone. It's been this way for 100 years. It's kind of not fun anymore." (VIDEO EMBEDDED) Sandberg: "This year that's a run. In the last 100 years, it's not a run." Gibson famously shown running over Toronto catcher Pat Borders on play at the plate years ago, also believed the call was in error. "I didn't think they got the play right," he said. The new rule, implemented this year in an attempt to avoid collisions such as the one that cost San Francisco catcher Buster Posey most of the 2011 season, has four basic components. It states:

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--A runner may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate to initiate contact. --If the umpire decides runner initiated contact, the runner is out, the ball is dead, and any other other base runners must return to the last base touched at the time of collision. --The catcher must have possession of the ball to block the pathway of runner trying to score. --If the umpire decides that the catcher, without the ball, blocked the pathway of the runner, then the runner is safe. Montero appeared to have possession of the ball a few steps before Howard approached to the plate. As former catcher Bob Brenly said on the telecast, "It is one of those rules that may need some tweaking as we move forward." Montero admitted he was affected by the ruling on a subsequent play at the plate in the seventh inning, when he set up on the first base side of the plate and mishandled a throw from David Peralta as the Phillies scored an insurance run with two out. "I thought, 'What should I do?' They make it very hard," Montero said. (VIDEO EMBEDDED)

Jody's search for a cheesesteak By Jody Jackson / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/video/jody-s-search-for-a-cheesesteak-072814?vid=312695875718 (VIDEO EMBEDDED)

Diamondbacks reinstate Jordan Pacheco, release Nick Evans Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1753979/Diamondbacks-reinstate-Jordan-Pacheco-release-Nick-Evans PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks made a roster move Monday that saw reinstated Jordan Pacheco and placed Nick Evans on unconditional release waivers. Pacheco was on the 15-day disabled list after a short battle with right should tendinitis. In eight rehab games, he hit .269 with six RBI and two stolen bases. Originally claimed from Colorado on waivers, Pacheco has hit .375 in eight games for the D-backs. Evans, a Phoenix native, hit .273 for seven RBI for the D-backs in 17 games. While in Reno, he hit .354 for 47 RBI and also scored 42 runs. Evans is now a free agent.

Report: Diamondbacks willing to move closer Addison Reed Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1754065/Report-Diamondbacks-willing-to-move-closer-Addison-Reed

Addison Reed is just in his first year with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but a report Monday indicates the team is open to moving him before Thursday's trade deadline. ESPN senior baseball writer Jayson Stark also mentioned a few other names Arizona could be willing to trade, but he identified one Diamondback that is pretty much untouchable at this point. The Diamondbacks are telling teams they'd talk about moving closer Addison Reed, but aren't likely to move reliever Brad Ziegler. Arizona is also still listening on Aaron Hill, Oliver Perez and, for the right offer, Martin Prado and Josh Collmenter. After Monday's extra-inning win in Cincinnati, the 25-year-old Reed has appeared in 44 games for Arizona and has racked up 25 saves, but blown five opportunities. He has allowed 37 hits (including nine home runs), struck out 49 and walked 12 in 42.2 innings. His win-loss record is 1-5, and he has an ERA of 3.80. The San Diego State product was traded to Arizona in the offseason after posting 40 saves (in 48 opportunities) for the Chicago White Sox in 2013.

Rookie makes difference in Diamondbacks' marathon win over Reds: By The Numbers By Andrew Gilstrap / Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1754097/Rookie-makes-difference-in-Diamondbacks-marathon-win-over-Reds-By-The-Numbers In a game that had more innings than hits, the Arizona Diamondbacks emerged victorious in a series opener at the Great American Ball Park against the Cincinnati Reds. One of the most inexperienced players on the field, Nick Ahmed, became the hero Monday as he singled in Martin Prado from second base to give Arizona a 2-1 win in 15 innings. After Miguel Montero drove in Mark Trumbo in the top of the fourth inning, the two teams were tied for inning after inning until Ahmed came through in the 15th frame. Both starting pitchers had strong outings for their respective teams, but each club had to go deep into their bullpens after the game refused to be anything but tied. Oliver Perez (1-1) recorded the win for Arizona, while Addison Reed picked up his 25th save. Arizona improved to 46-60 with the victory, including 2-2 on the current road trip, while Cincinnati (fourth in the NL Central) fell below .500 at 52-53. Here's a look at Monday's marathon game by the numbers: .04 Arizona's .434 winning percentage is just four points from tying the San Diego Padres (46-59) for third place in the NL West. The D-backs are a half-game behind the Padres and 13 games back of the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. 1

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First baseman Paul Goldschmidt only went 1-for-5, but his first-inning single was enough to break a rare two-game hitless streak. He is hitting .305 on the season. 2 After struggling for several games since coming back from a foot injury, Mark Trumbo collected two hits in his second straight outing. The only problem was he accrued six at-bats Monday, so he didn't exactly have an outstanding game, but he still raised his average to .200. One of Trumbo's hits was a double, and he scored one of the three runs in the contest. Ahmed and Didi Gregorius were the only other Diamondbacks to collect more than one hit against the Reds. 7.0 Diamondbacks right-hander Chase Anderson tied his career-longest start, as he went 7.0 innings. He settled down after a rough second inning that saw him give up the only three hits -- one being a homer -- and one run he would allow all evening. Anderson, 26, struck out eight and walked two in 89 pitches. Reds pitcher Homer Bailey similarly had a strong start, going 8.0 innings while allowing five hits and one earned run with three strikeouts and one walk. 11 Ahmed, 24, collected his 10th and 11th hits -- the last one giving him his third RBI -- in his 15 games with the Diamondbacks. The midfielder is batting .229 in his first season in the Majors. 14 The two clubs combined for a mere 14 hits in 15 innings, with the Diamondbacks getting eight. The Reds' six hits came from three sources: Devin Mesoraco, Brayan Pena and Kris Negron, who each had two. 18 Led by Anderson's eight K's, Diamondbacks pitchers struck out 18 batters Monday. Brad Ziegler and Evan Marshall both added three, with Marshall getting all of his in just one inning of work. Cincinnati struck out 12 batters as a team. 59 Montero's fourth-inning single to score Trumbo was his 59th RBI of the year -- second on the team behind Goldschmidt's 67. Montero went just 1-for-5 on Monday with one walk, and his average dropped to .260. .310 Outfielder David Peralta had six opportunities to get a hit, but it was one of those rare nights this season where he didn't get on base. The 26-year-old rookie is still batting an impressive .310 on the season. 4 hours, 34 minutes

The first nine innings went by rather quickly Monday in Cincinnati. The only problem: They were just the first nine innings. The marathon game went longer than four-and-a-half hours before it was all said and done. More than 30,000 fans attended the game, although many left at various points during the extra frames.

ESPN insider Keith Law breaks down D-backs' tradeable assets By Vince Marotta / Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1754219/ESPN-insider-Keith-Law-breaks-down-Dbacks-tradeable-assets The clock is ticking for chief baseball officer Tony La Russa, general manager Kevin Towers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Major League Baseball trade deadline hits this Thursday at 1:00 p.m. Phoenix time, and for a team like the Diamondbacks, there is potentially a lot of work to be done. The D-backs have already made two trades in the last month, sending relief pitcher Joe Thatcher to the Los Angeles Angels for prospects and dealing starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy to the New York Yankees for lefty Vidal Nuño. But for a team that has floundered in the NL West standings pretty much all season, there are other players that could be dealt before the deadline hits. ESPN baseball insider Keith Law joined Doug and Wolf Tuesday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM and went over the possibilities, starting with the team's most consistent pitcher in 2014. "Would you trade Wade Miley? Because I would," Law said. "There are starting pitchers available, but they're either back end guys who aren't going to get much of a return or they're David Price, where the price -- no pun intended -- is enormous. "So could you put Miley out there? And you can ask a lot for him because the acquiring team is getting him for the next three years. You could get more for him because there he's got more years of control and he's young and he's pitched really well in a tough environment. You'd get more because he's more attractive than some of these other guys on the market because he has the extra years of control." Miley, a 2012 All-Star, is only 27 years of age and has been a steady member of the Arizona rotation for the last two-and-a-half years. This season, the lefty is 6-7 with a 4.34 ERA in 22 starts. Law believes the D-backs couldn't hurt themselves by dangling Miley to potential suitors. "You're not forced to trade him," he said. "If you don't get an offer you like, you just pull him back and maybe you discuss him again in the offseason. But it can't hurt to at least explore his market because I do think he's the most valuable trade asset they have." There has also been plenty of discussion about right-handed reliever Brad Ziegler, who could certainly help the bullpen of any

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contending team. The 34-year-old is leading the National League in appearances for the second straight season and has a 4-1 record with a 2.68 ERA. "I think there would be interest (in Ziegler), but the problem is there are just so many relievers out there. Could you trade him and get sort of one Grade-B prospect? Yes. But I don't think you're going to get a huge return for him," Law said. And then there's veteran second baseman Aaron Hill, who has been out of the Arizona lineup for the last two games after being hit on the right hand with a pitch in last Saturday's win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite having what many perceive as a down season, Hill has the second-most RBI (49) of any second baseman in the National League. Hill may also have inflated value because of the dearth of available second basemen on the market. "It's him," Law said. "If there's another one out there who can play second base every day, I'm not sure who it is. The problem is, while he's hurt, I don't think anyone's going to want to pay much to acquire him because you're concerned he's going to have to go on the DL. And if there's any kind of lingering issue with hand or wrist, that can sap a guy's power going forward for quite some time. So I think any acquiring team would be looking at him saying 'we'll take him and we'll pay his salary -- we're not going to give a prospect in return though because there is some risk involved.' "That would be an opportunity to clear some payroll for the Diamondbacks, but probably not a way to get a prospect." After this season, Hill has two years and $24 million remaining on his contract.

At Cooperstown, McKay honors La Russa By Mark Brown / Examiner http://www.examiner.com/article/at-cooperstown-mckay-honors-la-russa On Sunday morning, Diamondbacks’ first base coach Dave McKay headed out the door for his daily journey to the ball park. Just like any other day. On this day, the Diamondbacks were in Philadelphia and players and staff headed for one more trip to Citizens Bank Park before leaving for Cincinnati. Hitting the street, McKay side-steps the bus which will take the team through the streets of one of America’s most historic cities and to the venue for the rubber game of this weekend set. Yes, there is one deviation from the normal routine on this day. This time, McKay will not jump on the team bus but instead hop into a rental car and drive about three and one-half hours north to the usually sleepy but now boisterous village of Cooperstown, N. Y. The occasion is the 2014 induction into the baseball Hall of Fame and McKay has a very important appointment to keep.

It’s not McKay is making a yearly pilgrimage to join about 48,000 others on the great expanse in front of the Clark Sports Center to anoint the baseball gods in this yearly ritual. McKay is making the trip to respect an honored friend, not to mention his boss for a nearly three decades. When Diamondbacks’ chief baseball officer Tony La Russa received his plaque Sunday, along with fellow managers Joe Torre and Bobby Cox and players Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas, McKay had to be on site. No matter if the Diamondbacks were still playing in Australia, McKay’s venture to Cooperstown was a necessity. McKay joined La Russa as a coach in 1984 and stayed, at this side, for 27 years. Through decades in Oakland and St. Louis, McKay was positioned as a trusted advisor and life-long friend. When La Russa took the front office job in the Diamondbacks’ organization earlier this spring, he said that McKay, special pitching advisor Dave Duncan and D-backs’ special assistant to the president Roland Hemond were not influential in his decision to join the Arizona organization. After all, Hemond first hired La Russa as a manager in the Chicago White Sox organization and Duncan served as La Russa’s trusted pitching coach from 1986 to 2011 in Oakland and St. Louis. That’s hard to believe because La Russa, as a baseball man and a man, is regarded as loyal to a fault. That’s why he had Duncan as his pitching coach for nearly three decades and McKay for that duration, as well. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” said McKay. “Plus, this is the first time at Cooperstown for me.” Logistics aside, McKay was with La Russa from 1984 through the Cardinals’ World Series championship season of 2011. In that period of time, McKay served as La Russa’s first base coach in Oakland and St. Louis for 16 years. “One thing about Tony is that he gives it everything he has all the time,” McKay said. “Plus, he builds on what he learned. He’s always learning, always asking and learning some more.” McKay cited the successful managers from the 1980s and 1990s as influential on La Russa. Managers like Sparky Anderson, Chuck Tanner, Earl Weaver, Dick Williams, and especially Billy Martin were particularly important in La Russa’s formal and informal baseball education. “Tony and Billy are opposites,” McKay pointed out. “Billy was out of control and usually all over the place. Vocal, loud. Tony is pretty quiet and more in control.” Yet, the divergent personalities bombarded one another to form La Russa’s overall baseball education. “(Tony) remembers and has a great mind,” McKay continued. “He always seeks out others and is relentless in his pursuit of knowledge.”

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If McKay stayed with La Russa for nearly three decades, the reason is easy to ascertain. “The trust in relationships is very important,” La Russa said just before leaving for Cooperstown last week. “Respect, trust and caring is the foundation and this is a great way to build a competitive team.” ON TO THE QUEEN CITY After dropping two of three in Philadelphia, the Diamondbacks continue their road trip in Cincinnati. On Monday night, it’s Chase Anderson (6-4, 3.58 ERA) for the D-backs and right-hander Homer Bailey (8-5, 4.22) for the Reds. For Tuesday night, Trevor Cahill (1-7, 5.72) gets his third start since being recalled from Triple-A Reno and takes on former Arizona State University stand-out Mike Leake (7-9, 3.73). On get-away day Wednesday afternoon (9:30 a.m. Arizona time), Wade Miley (6-7, 4.34) opposes right-hander Alfredo Simon (12-5, 2.86). Some numbers. While Anderson has no numbers against the Reds, Martin Prado is the only Diamondback player with any kind of at-bats against Bailey. He is 3-for-8 (.375) lifetime. On Tuesday when the D-backs face Leake, Gerardo Parra has the best lifetime numbers. Parra is 5-for-13 (.385) against Leake while Paul Goldschmidt is 2-for-12 (.167), Aaron Hill is 4-for-12, .333 with one home run and Prado is 4-for-16, .250 and one home run. On Wednesday, Zack Cozart is 2-for-11, .182 against Miley while Todd Frazier is 3-for-10, .300). Against Simon, David Peralta is 2-for-3, .667 and Mark Trumbo is 2-for-3, .667 and both are doubles. Goldschmidt is 1-for-5 lifetime against Simon while Hill is 0-for-7 and Parra is 0-for7. Then, it’s back to the desert for a 10-game home stand beginning this Thursday night starting with Pittsburgh. That includes four with the Pirates and three each against the Royals and Rockies.

Different role for Patrick Peterson, Miguel Montero involved in controversy plus NFL talk with Clark Judge & Paola Boivin By Brad Cesmat / Sports360AZ http://www.sports360az.com/2014/07/different-role-patrick-peterson-miguel-montero-involved-controversy-plus-nfl-talk-clark-judge-paola-boivin/ (PODCAST EMBEDDED) NFL Insider Clark Judge breaks down the incoming Hall of Fame class, as well as what it took to get Aeneas Williams to Canton. Paola Boivin joins Brad with the latest from Cardinals camp, and what another year at the helm does for Carson Palmer. Patrick Peterson’s role will differ in 2014 from last season. Miguel Montero was on the wrong end of a rule that is meant to protect him.

Hansen: D'backs snuffing life out of former fans By Greg Hansen / Arizona Daily Star http://tucson.com/sports/columnists/hansen/hansen-d-backs-snuffing-life-out-of-former-fans/article_bbb6c7be-44f0-5baa-a7d8-069898a397a7.html Every day as a kid, I rode my bike to Clark’s Market to buy a copy of the Salt Lake Tribune for 10 cents. It was the only way you could read the baseball box scores in my hometown. I read every box every day, even the hated Dodgers. I knew more about the Yankees than the Yankees knew about the Yankees. By the time I got my first full-time newspaper job, at Salt Lake City’s Deseret News, I would often sit by The Associated Press Teletype machine watching as the box scores were transmitted, line by line. Breaking news. I had a baseball addiction like nobody’s business. This craziness continued into the 21st century, enabled by the Diamondbacks, who were irresistible for the first five years of their existence. The D-backs had personality, superstars, and a bullish owner, Jerry Colangelo, who bought the club a World Series championship and an identity. They were Tucson’s team by a mile. The Dodgers had been Tucson’s favorite baseball team for more than 50 years, no contest, because their games were broadcast on local radio — the incomparable Vin Scully every night! — and Tucson baseball fans frequently trekked to Dodger Stadium for a summer getaway. That all changed when the D-backs began spring training on Ajo Way and, almost overnight, became a powerhouse, available in Tucson on TV and radio for 162 games a year. The Diamondbacks became so trendy that 10 people in my office bought season tickets in 1998. We had a party, a draft; we each hand-picked eight Diamondback games for the inaugural season. The D-backs averaged 44,571 per game that season, about 93 percent of capacity. Bank One Ballpark was a little piece of baseball paradise. I must’ve gone to 20 games for each of the D-backs’ first five seasons. I didn’t even mind the midnight drive back to Tucson. I thought of that the other day when a friend said he had dugout-side tickets to the D-backs-Cubs game on a Saturday night. “I’ll drive,” he said. No, I said. Not a chance. No D-backs. Not this year. Not last year. Not next year. I haven’t watched an inning of a D-backs broadcast for years. If a D-backs game is on the car radio, I switch before the next pitch. My membership to the Baseball Writers of America lapsed. Too much exposure to lousy baseball smothered my baseball addiction.

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It’s not because the Diamondbacks abandoned Tucson as spring training headquarters. It made business sense for them to establish a base in Phoenix; they got a much better offer. The D-backs gave Tucson 13 years. It was fair. The reason the Diamondbacks are no longer celebrated (or liked much) in Tucson is because they are awful. They are unrecognizable and unwatchable. At 46-60, with no prospect of making a charge (now or in the near future) they are not good news. Attendance at Chase Field is 25,601 per game, and by October it will surely fall below 25,000, which will be the lowest in club history (25,425 in 2005). When Canyon del Oro High grad Ian Kinsler and the Detroit Tigers were in Phoenix for three games last week, the D-backs failed to sell 66,303 seats. They are just 5-10 in postseason games since the epic 2001 World Series. They have drafted poorly, traded poorly and are now in a ballpark that is more a relic, a warehouse, than a fun place to watch a ballgame. Much of the reason the Diamondbacks are in such a fix is because they’ve made a mess of their personnel decisions. They traded Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer for Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson. They botched first-round draft picks by selecting Daniel Schlereth, Bobby Borchering and Barret Loux. They paid $24 million for 37-year old pitcher Bronson Arroyo, who soon blew out his elbow. They are paying outfielder Cody Ross $27 million; he has hit 10 homers in a year and a half. It’s one thing to mortgage the future by paying for Randy Johnson. It’s another to pay J.J. Putz $13 million for six saves since 2012. One thing about the Colangelo management: it always made you feel the Diamondbacks were a good story. You don’t have any confidence that someone in the front office will spin a trade for the next Curt Schilling. The Diamondbacks aren’t much different than the Cleveland Indians of the 1989 movie “Major League.”’ “I play for the Indians,” Jake Taylor, played by Tom Berenger, tells a woman. “Here in Cleveland?” she asks, astonished. “I didn’t know they still had a team.” “Yup,” says Taylor. “We’ve got uniforms and everything.”

Did D-backs Erase Demons With Aces’ Brawl? By Bob Goodwood / Modern Times Magazine http://www.moderntimesmagazine.com/page18/Sports_Dbacks_Brawl_140728/Sports_Dbacks_Brawl_140728.php (VIDEO EMBEDDED)

July 18, 2014 — A little more than a year ago — on June 12 to be exact — the Arizona Diamondbacks got into a brawl with the Los Angeles Dodgers. At the time, the D-backs were in first place and had been for most of the season. The rest, they say, is history, as the Dodgers rallied behind a rookie named Yasiel Puig to take the division. The Arizona Diamondbacks have not been the same team since. Sure, they galloped out to first place in 2013 behind a rookie that tired at the end of the season — remember Patrick Corbin — and if they had made the playoffs it might have been the worst starting staff to ever do so. But pitching aside, it just appeared that the brawl had a tremendous impact on the 2013 campaign. Again, pitching determines a lot with regard to success in baseball, but as is the case with every sport, a psychological edge can mean even more. So, can a brawl between the teams’ two AAA affiliates — the Reno Aces for the Diamondbacks and the Albuquerque Isotopes for the Los Angeles Dodgers — do anything for the psyche of the players at the Major League level? Maybe, maybe not. The villain from the Aces and Diamondbacks perspective is Erisbel Arruebarrena, who after a home-run Friday night performed one of the slowest home-run trots as possible. A turtle could have passed him if he tried. Arruebarrena’s Turtle Trot Home-Run (VIDEO EMBEDDED) The Aces weren’t going to take it and when Arruebarrena took exception being struck out, Aces catcher Blake Lalli threw the ball to the third baseman and stepped slightly close to Arruebarrena. When he pushed Lalli, it was on. And it should have been on. Sure, if you fight in your office, you’d go to jail and no one is saying violence is good even on a baseball field or a hockey rink. But no matter where you are, when you get pushed, it is legally OK for you to push back to defend yourself. And, while the moral implications are personal for everyone, it might just be the psychological edge that the organization might need. Besides, its just good to know that at least someone stood up to the Dodgers.

NATIONAL.

Chapman turns up the heat against D-backs Closer tops 100 mph on 15 pitches, including once at 104 and five at 103 By Manny Randhawa / MLB.com http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article/cin/reds-closer-aroldis-chapman-threw-15-pitches-at-or-above-101-mph-

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monday?ymd=20140729&content_id=86822504&vkey=news_cin CINCINNATI -- Aroldis Chapman threatened his own record for fastest Major League pitch ever recorded -- 105.1 mph against the Padres on Sept. 24, 2010 -- in Monday night's 2-1, 15-inning loss to the D-backs at Great American Ball Park. The flame-throwing closer came on to pitch the ninth inning with the game tied at 1 and went through the heart of Arizona's lineup, striking out the side. That he struck out all three batters he faced was nothing out of the ordinary for Chapman -- he's fanned the side nine times in 2014 -- but it was the manner in which he did so that was extraordinary. • Chapman threw 20 pitches and 15 of them were fastballs. • None of Chapman's fastballs were clocked at less than 101 mph and the average speed of those pitches was 102 mph. • Chapman hit 104 mph on a pitch to Paul Goldschmidt and hit 103 mph five times in the inning. • Of the five non-fastball pitches Chapman threw, three were sliders and two were changeups. The sliders were 91, 92 and 90. The changeups were 91 and 90 mph. • Chapman has now struck out 20 batters in 8 2/3 innings pitched in July; that's a strikeout-per-nine-innings ratio of 20.8. His strikeout-per-nine-innings ratio for the season is 18.4. • In fanning Goldschmidt, who led off the frame, Chapman extended his Major League record for most consecutive relief appearances with a strikeout to 44, dating back to Aug. 21, 2013. "It was nothing special, I was just pitching," Chapman said through translator Tomas Vera. "I can't tell you what was different or why [I was throwing even harder than usual]." Goldschmidt wasn't aware just how hard Chapman was throwing to him when he was at the plate, but knew it was something unlike he'd ever seen before. "What'd he hit, 104 tonight?" Goldschmidt asked after the game. "Yeah, as far as velocity it's probably the hardest [I've faced] by four miles an hour or so." D-backs catcher Miguel Montero, Chapman's final strikeout victim, was not only trying to hit the fastball, but also thinking about what it would be like to catch it. "I think I'd still like to face him instead of catching him, to be honest," Montero said. "You can see the reaction from [catcher Devin] Mesoraco. Every time he caught the ball he was like, 'Ah!' like he was in pain." "He's an incredible athlete. Anything that he does doesn't really surprise me," Mesoraco said of Chapman. "He's just a special, special guy. It's unbelievable the way he can throw." Chapman was rested after having last pitched on Saturday, though he earned a four-out save with that outing in the win

over the Nationals, the fourth save of more than one inning in his career. "With a couple days off, I felt loose, I felt better," Chapman said. "You're just pitching; you can't control how hard you throw." That's a scary thought for opposing batters.

Class of 2014 basking in glow of big weekend Once-in-a-lifetime experience leaves new Hall of Famers with great memories By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140728&content_id=86706220&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb (VIDEO EMBEDDED) COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame usually exceeds expectations for the participants, and the events of this past weekend were no exception. A day after the ceremony and a dinner honoring the new inductees, they were all back on the stage behind the Clark Sports Center on Monday morning, participating in a "Voices of the Game" panel discussion. "This is a whole other plateau here," Joe Torre said before heading on stage. "You talk about the top of the mountain, that's what this is. And the interesting part is when you hang with these guys, there's no egos out there. They share stories -- just little intimate details or things they remember that involved you that blew you away. You just figure out who's listening and what impact it made." Forty-four of the other 59 living Hall of Famers attended the ceremony and annual dinner, which is a ritual for the new inductees, and Greg Maddux reiterated Torre's point. "There were more egos in a Major League clubhouse than that clubhouse last night," Maddux said. "It was cool." Maddux and Torre were inducted on Sunday, along with Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas, comprising the largest class of living inductees since 1971. Next year's class should have no shortage of prestigious candidates. Pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz will be on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot for the first time, with Craig Biggio (74.8 percent of the required vote for election) and Mike Piazza (62.2 percent) returning for the third time. Earlier this year, Biggio, who spent his entire 20-year-career with the Astros and amassed 3,060 hits, missed the 75-percent threshold by two votes. Johnson finished 22nd on the all-time list with 303 wins and No. 2 with 4,875 strikeouts, the most of any left-hander. Nolan Ryan is the whiff leader with 5,714. The difference in the overall voting is that the 16-member Golden Era Committee will be considering players, managers, umpires and executives whose careers spanned the post-integration era from 1947-72. The last time that committee met in late 2011, late Cubs third baseman Ron Santo was elected.

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That makes it less likely there will be a living electee from that era to the Class of 2015. The Golden Era Committee is one of three that cycle every three years. The Expansion Era Committee -- which reviews candidates whose careers began in 1973 -- unanimously elected Torre, La Russa and Cox last year. Ryan made a rare appearance at this year's ceremony in honor of Maddux and Glavine, who combined for 660 wins. Maddux had 355, the most of anyone since Warren Spahn retired with 363 after the 1965 season. Glavine had 305, two more than Johnson. The former Rangers president was also present for Saturday's Ford C. Frick Award presentation to longtime Texas play-by-play man Eric Nadel. Cox said he was honored to be around so much baseball royalty, which included the most recent elected living managers -- Tommy Lasorda (1997) and Whitey Herzog (2010). "This has been unbelievable, those Hall of Famers are so accommodating and nice," said Cox, who managed the Braves for 29 years spread over two stints. "They talk hitting, they talk pitching. I sat there last night talking pitching with Sandy Koufax and Tom Seaver -- not just for 20 minutes, but for a long time -- and [talked] hitting with Eddie Murray and Johnny Bench. You can't beat that." Torre, now Major League Baseball's executive vice president of baseball operations, sat with Koufax, Gibson, Seaver, Carlton Fisk and Steve Carlton. "There wasn't a bad table in the house, as they say, not a bad seat in the house," Torre said. La Russa said he sat during dinner with Cal Ripken Jr., Brooks Robinson, Jim Rice and Dennis Eckersley, a pretty good table. "We relived the 1983 playoffs," La Russa said. In that year's best-of-five American League Championship Series, the Orioles defeated La Russa's White Sox, 3-1. It was the White Sox first trip to the postseason since losing the 1959 World Series to the Dodgers. Baltimore went on to win it all, the last time it has done so, and the only time it won the Fall Classic in Ripken's 21-year career. The shortstop snared the last out to beat the Phillies. La Russa told Torre about pitchers on both teams throwing at hitters in Games 2 and 3 of the ALCS, leading to a fracas in Game 3 at Chicago's old Comiskey Park after Ripken and Murray were both clipped. "I told Cal it was the heat of the moment, he hit you in the butt," said La Russa, who is now the D-backs' chief baseball officer. "But it was stupid, and I was stupid for retaliating. "Rice was talking about hitting at Fenway. He's very bright. Brooks had wonderful recall. It was great, a wonderful table." These are magical moments behind the scenes shared by some of baseball's most honored people.

"We were like kids," Torre said. "And then you go around asking for autographs, and I was one of them." "It was good," said Glavine, who sat with Ryan, Dave Winfield and Andre Dawson. "I don't know if you know what to expect, but there wasn't too much ribbing and hazing from the rest of the guys. It was a very good table, a lot of men there much bigger than me. I knew it was going to be a great weekend, a lot of things were going to be unbelievable, and that certainly was the case. "I guess I would probably say it exceeded my expectations. I say probably, because I knew it was going to be great. I just didn't know how great, but it was great."

Diamondbacks-Reds Preview By STATS / ESPN http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=340729117 As the offensively challenged Cincinnati Reds continue to slide, they're trying to remain positive amid the frustration. The Reds look to bounce back from another dismal performance at the plate and keep the Arizona Diamondbacks from securing their first road series win in a month Tuesday night. Cincinnati (52-53) recorded six hits and struck out a season-high 18 times over 15 innings of a 2-1 loss to Arizona on Monday. The defeat dropped the Reds below .500 for the first time since they were 36-37 on June 21. "There's not a whole lot to say," catcher Devin Mesoraco said. "Everybody's trying. They're giving good efforts before the game. We're just not doing our jobs on the field." The Reds averaged 5.3 runs while winning seven of nine prior to the All-Star break, which they entered 1 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central. Since then, Cincinnati has totaled 17 runs, batted .171 and struck out 95 times while going 1-9 to fall six games off the lead. "I can't be critical of the effort, but we're not producing," manager Bryan Price said. "The tide will turn. It's just frustrating." Mesoraco's 17th home run in the second was one of two extra-base hits for the Reds, who have been held to a single run in four of five. After going 0 for 6 with four strikeouts Monday, Cincinnati All-Star Todd Frazier is 3 for 27 and has struck out 10 times in the last seven games. Teammate Zack Cozart, meanwhile, is mired in an 0-for-22 slump. Though Frazier and Cozart are a combined 1 for 6 against Arizona's Trevor Cahill (1-7, 5.72 ERA), the right-hander is 0-5 with an 8.10 ERA in six starts this season. Cahill allowed seven runs -- three earned -- and eight hits in four innings of an 11-5 loss to Detroit on Wednesday in his second

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outing since being recalled from the minors. Manager Kirk Gibson tried to find some positives but knows Cahill still has strides to make. "He didn't walk anybody," Gibson told the Diamondbacks' official website. "But when we needed him to make pitches, he's missing spots." Cahill yielded a run and four hits in seven innings while not factoring in the decision of a 2-1 defeat at Great American Park last season in his only previous start against the Reds. Cincinnati counters with Mike Leake (7-9, 3.73), who posted a 2.20 ERA while winning three of four before going 0-2 with a 5.68 mark over the next three. He's yielded four runs in each of the last three after surrendering 11 hits in six innings of a 5-1 defeat at Milwaukee on Wednesday. Though the right-hander has a 5.84 ERA in six starts versus Arizona (46-60), he's 3-0 and received an average of 6.81 runs of support in those contests. Leake's allowed four runs and six hits in six innings in each of last two against the Diamondbacks, most recently during a 6-4 victory May 30. Paul Goldschmidt is 2 for 12 versus Leake and has gone 1 for 12 with five strikeouts in the last three games for Arizona, which hasn't won back-to-back road contests nor a series away from home since taking the first two at San Diego from June 27-29. Teammate Nick Ahmed, who delivered the go-ahead single Monday, is 4 for 13 with two RBIs in three games since going 7 for 35 in the first 12 of his career this season.

Slumping Reds strike out 18 times in bat-breaking loss to D-backs By Mike Oz / Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/slumping-reds-strike-out-18-times-in-bat-breaking-loss-to-d-backs-063743438.html (VIDEO EMBEDDED) You want to know what type of game it was Monday night for the Cincinnati Reds? Just watch the video above. There's Jay Bruce — who was 0-for-4 in the game with three strikeouts — breaking his bat over his knee after going down on strikes in the ninth inning of a 1-1 game. Then there's Todd Frazier — who was 0-for-6 in the Reds' 15-inning loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks — breaking his bat against home plate after a called strike two in the 14th inning. Frazier didn't even strike out on that pitch, or in that at-bat. He later grounded out, an achievement for him in a game in which he struck out four times. To be so upset you break your bat on strike two, that's an indication of how frustrating things were for the Reds. (PHOTO EMBEDDED) They lost 2-1 in 15 innings, managing just six hits in what was approaching two games' worth of baseball. And they weren't playing a great team either. The Reds struck out 18 times in the

game, 10 of them belonging to Bruce, Frazier and lead-off hitter Billy Hamilton (0-6 with 3 Ks), the first three hitters in their lineup. Cincinnati got eight innings of one-run ball from starting pitcher Homer Bailey, but that puny offensive display didn't help him any. From MLB.com: "I can't be critical of the effort, because it's been outstanding. But we're not producing, at all. And we need to," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We can't waste this type of pitching. You can't play a game like that in this ballpark and play 15 innings and score a run. That can't happen." The Reds have lost nine of the 10 games they've played since the All-Star break and they've scored just 17 runs during that time. They were a game and a half back in the NL Central at the break. Now they're six games back. So wanting to snap a bat is understandable.

Sandy Alderson: Don't recall talking with Tony La Russa about possibly juiced A's By Tom Gatto / Sporting News http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2014-07-28/sandy-alderson-mets-gm-responds-tony-la-russa-oakland-a-s-steroids-peds-mark-mcgwire-jose-canseco To hear his old boss in Oakland tell it, Tony La Russa misremembered a conversation about PEDs that didn't take place. Former A's GM Sandy Alderson, now the Mets' GM, told reporters Monday that he doesn't recall a sit-down two decades ago after La Russa noticed some of his players were getting suspiciously stronger. La Russa on Friday claimed they did. "I spent a lot of time thinking about those kinds of circumstances over the years, particularly eight or nine years ago, and I have absolutely no recollection whatsoever of any such conversation," Alderson told reporters, per the New York Daily News. Granted, we're talking about an alleged conversation from the late '80s/early '90s, but a discussion of something as series as steroid use by players shouldn't fade so easily. Anyway, here's what La Russa told the New York Daily News at the Hall of Fame: “I knew our (conditioning and weight-training) programs in Oakland were 100 percent clean. But we had our suspicions — guys hitting stronger but not working out. I went to Sandy and ownership about this. And they told me flat off, ‘Right of privacy. It’s a collective bargaining issue.’ ” Never happened, according to Alderson. “If you go back and look at what I have said on the record, yes, I had my suspicions,” Alderson said, according to the Daily News. “I'm just here to respond to what Tony had to say and let's leave it at that.”

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La Russa for years defended former A's slugger Mark McGwire against allegations of doping, and kept him on as a Cardinals coach even after McGwire admitted in 2010 to juicing as a player. He has little use for admitted steroid user Jose Canseco. La Russa said last week that dopers with Hall of Fame credentials should be voted in, with an asterisk beside their names to the denote the illegal activity.

Young Reds fan reaches to catch foul, but no call By Ben Goldschmidt / cincinnati.com http://www.cincinnati.com/story/redsblog/2014/07/28/young-reds-fan-catches-todd-frazier-foul-ball-no-interference-call/13304715/ An awkward funk hung in the air as umpires reviewed a play in which a young Reds fan clearly reached over the rail to catch a foul ball, preventing Diamondback's David Peralta from making the grab in the ninth. Was this young girl about to be a hero or a villain in Cincinnati? That was up to the mercy of the umpires, who ultimately decided the call on the field -- foul ball with no fan interference -- stood, allowing Kayla Greer, 14, to stay at Great American Ball Park in good standing with her fellow fans. "I was scared," Greer said in an interview with Fox Sports Ohio's Jim Day. (TWEET EMBEDDED) It turned out to be inconsequential. Todd Frazier, who hit the deep foul to right field, ended up striking out and the game ended up in extra innings. (VIDEO'S & TWEETS EMBEDDED)

Hillsboro Hops, Arizona Diamondbacks build up gardens, morale at Albertina Kerr homes (photos) By Dean Baker / Oregonian http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro-hops/index.ssf/2014/07/hillsboro_hops_arizona_diamond.html Hillsboro Hops players and staff grabbed shovels, drills, screwdrivers, wheelbarrows and compost over the weekend to upgrade four Hillsboro-area Albertina Kerr Group Homes for kids and adults with developmental disabilities. The enthusiastic work crew of 25 people also included Arizona Diamondbacks executives and front office employees. The organization prides itself on community involvement for each of its nine minor league teams. In Hillsboro, ballplayers, executives and workers joined forces to build picnic tables, planter boxes, tetherball poles and gardens. They also served up dinners and gave away school supplies and backpacks. "They support us," Hillsboro Hops pitcher Dustin Loggins said of the community. "It's the least we can do to support them." Among those digging, pounding and hauling Sunday morning were Hillsboro manager J.R. House, pitching coach Doug

Drabek and hitting coach Mark Grace. Loggins was joined by Hillsboro Hops teammates Elvin Soto and Justin Gonzalez. The weekend efforts stemmed from the Diamondbacks "Give Back League," created in 2012 to rally more than 100 volunteer employees to help out foster kids through the organization's coverage area. During Sunday's game, which Hillsboro won 4-3 on Pedro Ruiz's walk-off home run in the 10th inning, the Diamondbacks presented Albertina Kerr with a check for $10,000.

Ahmed's RBI Single Propels D-backs To 2-1 Win Over Reds In 15 Innings By Josh Garcia / Vavel http://www.vavel.com/en-us/mlb/374093-ahmed-s-rbi-single-propels-d-backs-to-2-1-win-over-reds-in-15-innings.html It may have taken four and a half hours, but the Arizona Diamondbacks prevailed to earn a 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds Monday night. Rookie shortstop Nick Ahmed hit the game winning RBI single off J.J. Hoover in the fifteenth inning. The other two runs of offense in the game came in the second and fourth inning on a Devin Mesoraco solo homer and Miguel Montero RBI single. The lack of offense from both teams squandered two fantastic starts from Chase Anderson and Homer Bailey. Anderson threw seven innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out eight. As for Bailey, he pitched eight innings allowing just five hits. Both teams will meet again in game two of the series on Tuesday, where Trevor Cahill and Mike Leake will duel against one another.

Reds lose 15-inning marathon against Diamondbacks By John Fay / Cincinnati Enquirer http://www.pal-item.com/article/20140728/SPORTS/140729001 CINCINNATI — The Reds' offensive struggles may have reached a new high – or rather low – Monday night. They were shut out over the final 13 innings in a 2-1, 15-inning loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks before the remains of a crowd of 30,288 on a delightful night at Great American Ball Park. The Reds are back under .500 at 52-53. They've lost nine of 10 since the All-Star break. "We just didn't score any runs," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I wish I could put my finger on it. We're just not putting together good at-bats. They're working hard, busting their tails. We're getting guys in scoring position. "I think we've got to accept that a base hit is enough to score a runner from second base. It doesn't have to be a two-run shot."

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Making the loss all the more painful: The Reds gave away a run in the second inning by having a runner thrown out at the plate by 20 feet. J.J. Hoover (1-8), the Reds' sixth pitcher of the night, took the loss. He gave up Nick Ahmed's two-out RBI single in the 15th. But this loss – like nearly every one lately – was about the offense. The top three hitters in the lineup went 0-for-16 with 10 strikeouts. Since the All-Star break, the Reds have scored 17 runs in 10 games. They are hitting . 172 (56-for-325) overall and .100 (6-for-60) with runners in scoring position since the break. "The pitchers did a great job and gave us every opportunity to win," Devin Mesoraco said. "We couldn't get any runs... There's not a whole lot to say at this point. Everybody's trying, giving a good effort before the game. We're just not doing our jobs out there on the field." Homer Bailey had one of his better starts of the year. He went eight innings and allowed one run on five hits. He walked one and struck out three. Thanks to the continued abysmal offense, he left with no decision. Only Devin Mesoraco's home run in the second kept Bailey from taking a loss. "I think this is a tough team," Bailey said. "There's a lot of heart on this club. You have to keep believing. Yesterday's gone. Last week is gone. Somewhere along the way we're going to have to turn it around. That's going to come from the 25 guys we're suiting every day. It's not just the hitters. It's not the defense. It's not pitchers. Either we're going to have to find a way or we're going home early. There's no secret about that." Chase Anderson, a rookie right-hander, went seven innings and allowed one run on three hits. He did not allow a hit in his last five innings of work and retired the last 11 batters he faced. The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the second. Mesoraco led off and turned on a 91 mph fastball. He sent it 419 feet to left for his 17th homer of the year. An out later, Brayan Pena doubled into right. Kristopher Negron followed with a blooper that fell into center field. Third base coach Steve Smith sent Pena, even though center fielder Ender Inciarte had the ball as Pena rounded the bag. Pena was out by 20 feet. He didn't even slide. The play ended up costing the Reds a run because Zack Cozart followed with a ball to right that would have gotten Pena in. Instead, it was the third out. The Reds have had 22 runners thrown out on non-force plays at the plate. It is the most since they had 24 thrown out in 1985. Price absolved Smith. "They're talking points when they get thrown out," Price said. "They're not talking points when they don't. It's like anything -- when it doesn't work you're left to answer for it. We're not scoring runs. We're trying to create runs any way we can.

"I don't fault anyone on that play. We were just trying to make something happen." Bailey retired 10 of the first 11 hitters before giving up a two-out double to Mark Trumbo in the fourth. Right fielder Jay Bruce nearly ran it down but had it go off his glove. Miguel Montero lined an 0-2 pitch to the wall in right to get Trumbo home and tie it. It stayed tied as the Reds' offense went into sleep mode. The Reds' only mild threat came in the fourth. Mesoraco led off with a walk. An out later, Pena pulled one to right. It was tailing away from right fielder David Peralta, who made a sliding catch. Mesoraco was easily doubled up. Bailey's only other trouble came in the seventh. He walked Montero on four pitches to start the inning. Martin Prado's groundout got Montero to second. Former Red Didi Gregorius followed with a single. The slow-footed Montero was held at third. Ahmed followed with a grounder to Todd Frazier at third, who started a 5-4-3 double play. Negron led off the eighth with a single. Cozart bunted him to second. But pinch-hitter Skip Schumaker struck out and Billy Hamilton bounced out. Aroldis Chapman took over for Bailey and struck out the side in the ninth, extending his reliever-record streak to 44 games with at least one strikeout. He hit 104 mph on a pitch to Paul Goldschmidt. Jonathan Broxton followed with a 1-2-3 10th. Jumbo Diaz pitched the 11th and 12th for his first career two-inning outing. He allowed only one hit. The Reds had chances in overtime. Pena singled with one out in the 10th. But Negron and Donald Lutz, sent up to pinch-hit for Cozart (0-for-his-last-22), struck out. Ramon Santiago, who entered in the 10th as part of double-switch, led off the 11th with a four-pitch walk. Hamilton bunted foul twice, but got down the sacrifice on the third attempt. The D'Backs intentionally walked Bruce. Frazier took a called third strike and Mesoraco popped to third. Left-hander Oliver Perez hit pinch-hitter Ryan Ludwick with a pitch to start the Reds' 13th. Santiago bunted Ludwick over. Hamilton struck out and Bruce grounded out.

Continued surge could put Miami Marlins in buy mode for a starting pitcher By Clark Spencer / Miami Herald http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/27/4258443/continued-surge-could-put-miami.html

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HOUSTON -- Giancarlo Stanton hasn’t played in many meaningful games with the Marlins, who have finished last in every one of his four seasons except for his first. That’s why he’s looking forward to this week's home showdown against the first-place Nationals, who arrive Monday for a three-game series that carries more than one implication for the Marlins. The Marlins could not only make up ground on the division leaders with a successful series, but also would likely put Marlins management into buy mode as they near Thursday’s nonwaiver trading deadline. “I know how important it’s going to be,” Stanton said. “We know where we’re at. They’re [the Nationals] in the driver’s seat, so we’ve got to kick them out.” The Marlins have stated that they would like to add a starting pitcher, especially one they can control beyond this season. Among the pitchers that fit the profile and the Marlins are thought to be considering: • Oakland left-hander Tommy Milone, who reportedly asked the A’s to trade him after being demoted to the minors. Milone is 6-3 with a 3.55 ERA this season; 32-22 with a 3.84 ERA in 78 career starts. Milone was bounced to the minors after the A’s traded for starters Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. Milone is appealing to the Marlins in that he is not eligible for free agency until 2018. • Arizona lefty Wade Miley, who is also three seasons away from free agency. Miley, a fly-ball pitcher who would fit well at Marlins Park, has gone 36-30 with a 3.73 ERA in 91 career starts with the Diamondbacks. • San Diego right-hander Ian Kennedy, who is 8-9 with a 3.66 in 22 starts for the Padres. Kennedy brings more experience (61-49 with a 3.96 ERA in 163 career starts) but is closer to free agency and, with only one arbitration year left, would be a costlier option for the Marlins. But if the series with the Nationals doesn’t go well for the Marlins, they might also decide to sell, with relievers Steve Cishek and Mike Dunn being the two most logical candidates. GREAT TRIP The Marlins completed their best seven-game road trip in franchise history with Sunday’s 4-2 win over the Houston Astros. The 6-1 trip to Atlanta and Houston surpassed three previous 5-2 trips — in 1993, 1994 and 1997. That first 5-2 trip to Colorado, Cincinnati and Atlanta in April of 1993, was also the team’s very first seven-game trip. COMING UP

• Monday: Marlins RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-6, 4.20 ERA) vs. Washington Nationals RHP Jordan Zimmermann (6-5, 3.20), 7:10 p.m., Marlins Park. • Tuesday: Marlins RHP Henderson Alvarez (7-5, 2.62) vs. Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-8, 3.67), 7:10 p.m., Marlins Park.

Diamondbacks edge Reds in 15th inning By Jeff Wallner (The Sports Xchange) / Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/news/diamondbacks-2-reds-1-15-040116912--mlb.html CINCINNATI -- Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed drove home the winning run Monday night. However, after 15 innings, and four hours and 34 minutes of baseball, Ahmed's emotions were more akin to relief than jubilation. "It was good to have one fall in for me," Ahmed said. "We had trouble getting hits tonight. Nothing was falling in for either team. Feels good to get the win." Ahmed's single knocked in third baseman Martin Prado with the go-ahead run, lifting the Diamondbacks to a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park. "It was a long game," said weary D-backs manager Kirk Gibson. "Great pitching on both sides. Our bullpen was shot. Now it's really shot. You get into games like this and everybody's trying to end it (with a homer). You try not to, but that's what happens." Oliver Perez (1-1) threw two scoreless innings to earn the win. Addison Reed earned his 25th save. Cincinnati reliever J.J. Hoover (1-8) gave up one run on one hit in two innings. In the 15th, Prado walked with one out and advanced to second on a groundout. He scored when Ahmed, the Diamondbacks' shortstop, laced a single to left-center off Hoover. The Diamondbacks (46-60) improved to 13-0 in their history in games lasting at least 15 innings. Catcher Devin Mesoraco hit his 17th home run for Cincinnati (52-53), which lost for the ninth time in 10 games since the All-Star break. The Reds went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine runners Monday. "We've just got to be better than we've been with runners in scoring position," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I can't be critical of the effort, but we're not producing. The tide will turn. It's just frustrating." The teams combined for 30 strikeouts, and both starting pitchers delivered solid efforts. Reds starter Homer Bailey induced 13 ground-ball outs in his eight innings. He retired the D-backs in order in the second, third, sixth, and eighth innings. Bailey gave up just one run and five hits. He walked one and struck out three.

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D-backs starter Chase Anderson held Cincinnati hitless in six of his seven six innings, including the sixth, when he fanned three consecutive batters. Anderson allowed one run on three hits, walked two and struck out eight. Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman reached 104 mph on one pitch and 101-103 mph on several others while striking out the side in the ninth. "Every time Mesoraco caught the ball, he looked like he was in pain," D-backs catcher Miguel Montero said. The Cincinnati bullpen retired 14 straight batters before left fielder Mark Trumbo's single in the 12th. Cincinnati had the potential winning run at second base with one out in the 11th and 13th innings but could not push a run across. "We did a good job of stopping those guys with runners in scoring position," Gibson said. In the second, Mesoraco hammered a 3-1 pitch from Anderson into the left field bleachers to put Cincinnati ahead 1-0, ending a streak of three consecutive homerless games at Great American Ball Park, longest in the park's 12-year history. The D-backs prevented a bigger second inning for the Reds when catcher Brayan Pena was thrown out at home by center fielder Ender Inciarte. "We're not scoring runs," Price said. "We're trying to score runs any way we can. I don't fault anyone on that play. We're trying to make something happen." With two outs in the fourth, Trumbo doubled off right fielder Jay Bruce's glove, then scored on Montero's single to tie the game at 1-1. Monday's game was barely two hours old in the ninth inning, but it wouldn't end until almost midnight. "I thought it was going to be a short one," said Montero, smiling. "Feels good to come through with a victory." NOTES: The Diamondbacks reinstated Jordan Pacheco from the 15-day disabled list. Pacheco can play first, second, third, catcher and outfield. "Kind of a super utility guy," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "That's the plan for him so far." ... To make room for Pacheco, INF/OF Nick Evans was placed on unconditional release waivers. ... Reds RF Jay Bruce batted second for the first time since 2011, and he went 0-for-4 with two walks and three strikeouts. "Just trying to do some things, not really to shake it up, but to see if there's a better recipe for success right now offensively," Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said. ... D-backs 2B Aaron Hill did not start for the second consecutive day due to a bruised right hand. He appeared as a 15th-inning pinch hitter, and he flied out. Gibson expects him to be back in the lineup Tuesday.

ARIZONA AT CINCINNATI CBS Sports

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/preview/MLB_20140729_ARI@CIN/diamondbacks-reds-preview As the offensively challenged Cincinnati Reds continue to slide, they're trying to remain positive amid the frustration. The Reds look to bounce back from another dismal performance at the plate and keep the Arizona Diamondbacks from securing their first road series win in a month Tuesday night. Cincinnati (52-53) recorded six hits and struck out a season-high 18 times over 15 innings of a 2-1 loss to Arizona on Monday. The defeat dropped the Reds below .500 for the first time since they were 36-37 on June 21. "There's not a whole lot to say," catcher Devin Mesoraco said. "Everybody's trying. They're giving good efforts before the game. We're just not doing our jobs on the field." The Reds averaged 5.3 runs while winning seven of nine prior to the All-Star break, which they entered 1 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central. Since then, Cincinnati has totaled 17 runs, batted .171 and struck out 95 times while going 1-9 to fall six games off the lead. "I can't be critical of the effort, but we're not producing," manager Bryan Price said. "The tide will turn. It's just frustrating." Mesoraco's 17th home run in the second was one of two extra-base hits for the Reds, who have been held to a single run in four of five. After going 0 for 6 with four strikeouts Monday, Cincinnati All-Star Todd Frazier is 3 for 27 and has struck out 10 times in the last seven games. Teammate Zack Cozart, meanwhile, is mired in an 0-for-22 slump. Though Frazier and Cozart are a combined 1 for 6 against Arizona's Trevor Cahill (1-7, 5.72 ERA), the right-hander is 0-5 with an 8.10 ERA in six starts this season. Cahill allowed seven runs - three earned - and eight hits in four innings of an 11-5 loss to Detroit on Wednesday in his second outing since being recalled from the minors. Manager Kirk Gibson tried to find some positives but knows Cahill still has strides to make. "He didn't walk anybody," Gibson told the Diamondbacks' official website. "But when we needed him to make pitches, he's missing spots." Cahill yielded a run and four hits in seven innings while not factoring in the decision of a 2-1 defeat at Great American Park last season in his only previous start against the Reds. Cincinnati counters with Mike Leake (7-9, 3.73), who posted a 2.20 ERA while winning three of four before going 0-2 with a 5.68 mark over the next three. He's yielded four runs in each of

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the last three after surrendering 11 hits in six innings of a 5-1 defeat at Milwaukee on Wednesday. Though the right-hander has a 5.84 ERA in six starts versus Arizona (46-60), he's 3-0 and received an average of 6.81 runs of support in those contests. Leake's allowed four runs and six hits in six innings in each of last two against the Diamondbacks, most recently during a 6-4 victory May 30. Paul Goldschmidt is 2 for 12 versus Leake and has gone 1 for 12 with five strikeouts in the last three games for Arizona, which hasn't won back-to-back road contests nor a series away from home since taking the first two at San Diego from June 27-29. Teammate Nick Ahmed, who delivered the go-ahead single Monday, is 4 for 13 with two RBIs in three games since going 7 for 35 in the first 12 of his career this season.

Cincinnati Reds fall below .500 with 15-inning loss By Joe Kay / Coshocton Tribune http://www.coshoctontribune.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/07/29/cincinnati-reds-fall-inning-loss/13306775/ CINCINNATI – Fifteen innings. Six hits. One run. No matter how long the game goes, Cincinnati’s offense can’t do much of anything. Nick Ahmed’s RBI single with two outs in the 15th inning sent the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 2-1 victory over the Reds on Monday night, extending Cincinnati’s miserable return from the All-Star break. Ahmed’s single off J.J. Hoover (1-8) gave the Reds their ninth loss in 10 games since the All-Star break, a slump that has dropped them below .500 for the first time since June 21. The offense has been the problem, scoring only 17 runs in those 10 games, by far the fewest in the majors. “There’s not a whole lot to say,” catcher Devin Mesoraco said. “Everybody’s trying. They’re giving good efforts before the game. We’re just not doing our jobs on the field.” The Reds struck out 18 times and stranded nine runners, wasting a lot of chances to end it in nine innings. “We’ve just got to be better than we’ve been with runners in scoring position,” manager Bryan Price said. “I can’t be critical of the effort, but we’re not producing. The tide will turn. It’s just frustrating.” Arizona remained perfect when games go really long. Arizona is 13-0 all-time in games of at least 15 innings. Oliver Perez (1-1) gave up a hit and a walk in two innings. Addison Reed got his 25th save in 30 chances. Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman fanned the side in the ninth, extending his major league record for a reliever to 44 consecutive games with at least one strikeout. One of his pitches was clocked at 104 mph. Mesoraco led off the second with his 17th homer off rookie Chase Anderson, ending a streak of three straight games at Great

American without a homer — the longest in the ballpark’s 12 seasons. Miguel Montero singled home the tying run in the fourth off Homer Bailey, who gave up five hits in eight innings. Anderson allowed three hits and matched his career high with eight strikeouts in seven innings, retiring the last 11 batters he faced. Arizona right fielder David Peralta saved a run in the fourth with a diving, backhand catch of Brayan Pena’s fly ball. He doubled up Chris Heisey at first base. ON DECK Diamondbacks: Trevor Cahill (1-7) is trying to get his first victory as a starter this season. He’s 0-5 in six starts. He also has made 15 relief appearances, going 1-1. … Aaron Hill is expected back on Tuesday. He was out of the starting lineup the last two games with a bruised right hand, which was hit by a pitch. He has a 10-game hitting streak. Reds: Mike Leake (7-9) is 3-0 in six career starts against Arizona TRAINER’S ROOM Diamondbacks: INF Jordan Pacheco was activated off the 15-day DL. Arizona claimed him off waivers from Colorado on June 12. He went 3 for 8 as a pinch-hitter before developing shoulder tendinitis. INF Nick Evans was placed on unconditional release waivers. Reds: RH Logan Ondrusek is still resting his sore right shoulder, which landed him on the 15-day DL on July 22. Price said he’s still got some soreness. CH-CH-CHANGES Price batted Jay Bruce second for the first time since 2011, trying to get his lineup out of a slump. Bruce went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and a pair of walks. TAKE A LOOK Arizona is asking for a review of a call in Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Phillies. Catcher Miguel Montero was called for blocking the plate on Ryan Howard, violating a rule enacted this season. Manager Kirk Gibson contends that Montero, who initially set up in front of the plate, went into the baseline to get the throw. Gibson hopes that the play leads to a clarification of the rule. FLASH Many of the 30,288 fans flashed their cell phone camera lights during extra innings and did the wave to amuse themselves. JUMBO VS. TRUMBO Reds reliever Jumbo Diaz faced Mark Trumbo in the 12th and gave up a single that ended a streak of 14 consecutive Diamondbacks retired. STATS

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Arizona’s Martin Prado went 0 for 5, ending his six-game hitting streak. … Mesoraco’s 17 homers are the most by a Reds catcher since David Ross hit 17 in 2007. … Zack Cozart extended his slump to 0 for 22, matching his career high from the start of this season. … Chapman has struck out the side nine times this season. … Todd Frazier struck out four times.

Recap: Cincinnati vs. Arizona By Sports Network / The State http://www.thestate.com/2014/07/29/3589312/recap-cincinnati-vs-arizona.html Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Nick Ahmed's two-out RBI single in the top of the 15th inning gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. Martin Prado drew a walk with one away against J.J. Hoover (1-8) and moved to second base on Didi Gregorius' groundout. Ahmed stepped in and came up with the biggest hit of his young career, lacing a single to left-center that easily scored Prado. Oliver Perez (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings of relief and Addison Reed shut the door in the ninth to earn his 25th save. The Diamondbacks improved to an amazing 13-0 in games that go at least 15 innings. Arizona starter Chase Anderson struck out a career-high eight batters in seven innings. He allowed just a run on three hits, departing when Juan Pacheco pinch-hit for him in the top of the eighth inning. Anderson needed just 89 pitches to get through seven. Homer Bailey was also efficient, throwing 95 pitches in eight innings of work. He yielded a run on five hits. The top three hitters in the Cincinnati lineup, Billy Hamilton, Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier, finished a combined 0-for-16 with 10 strikeouts. Devin Mesoraco led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo blast to the second deck in left field to give the Reds an early 1-0 edge. Brayan Pena doubled later in the frame and Kris Negron blooped a single into center. Pena tried to take home on the base hit, but Ender Inciarte fired home in plenty of time to keep it a one-run game. Arizona got the run back in the fourth when Miguel Montero followed Mark Trumbo's double with an RBI single to right. Anderson got stronger as the game went on. The rookie struck out the top three batters in Cincinnati's order in the sixth inning and fanned Mesoraco to start the seventh. He retired the last 11 batters he faced and didn't allow a hit after the second inning. Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for Cincinnati and recorded his 31st career three-strikeout inning.

Not much more to say as Reds lose 2-1 in 15 innings By Kevin Goheen / FOX Sports Ohio http://www.foxsports.com/ohio/story/not-much-more-to-say-as-reds-lose-2-1-in-15-innings-072914

CINCINNATI -- Maybe Great American Ball Park isn't so small after all? The Reds played an extra six innings Monday night but for the 10th straight game, including fourth in a row at home, they failed to score more than three runs. Three runs at least would have been enough offense to get them a win as they lost for the ninth time in 10 games, 2-1 in 15 innings to Arizona. It was a night of offensive futility for both teams but the Diamondbacks got the deciding run in the top of the 15th on a two-out RBI single by shortstop Nick Ahmed off of reliever J.J. Hoover to score Martin Prado from second base. It was just the eighth hit of the game for the Diamondbacks but that was better than the six hits the Reds produced. The teams struck out a combined 30 times. Reds batters struck out 18 times, with 10 of them coming from the first three hitters in the lineup: Billy Hamilton (three), Jay Bruce (three) and Todd Frazier (four). Hamilton struck out against Arizona closer Addison Reed to end the game with Ramon Santiago on first base as the potential tying run. "We just didn't score any runs," said manager Bryan Price. "I can't be critical of the effort because it's been outstanding but we're not producing at all and we need to. We can't waste this type of pitching. You can't play in this ball park 15 innings and score a run. That can't happen." Starter Homer Bailey allowed one run on five hits in his eight innings. Relievers Aroldis Chapman, Jonathan Broxton, Jumbo Diaz, Sam LeCure and Hoover pitched seven innings and gave up just one run on three hits but it wasn't enough to overcome the lack of offense. "The pitchers went out there and did a great job, gave us all of the opportunity in the world to win and we couldn't get any runs," said catcher Devin Mesoraco, who provided the lone run with a solo home run leading off the second inning. "There's not a whole lot to say at this point. Everyone is trying. Everybody is giving a good effort and working hard before the game and we're just not doing our jobs out on the field. That's all there is to it." Mesoraco has been typical of the rest of the lineup the last 10 games. He had just four hits in 22 at-bats since returning from his first All-Star game appearance before sending a 419-foot home run into the upper deck in left field. It was his 17th homer of the season and ended the first streak of three straight homerless games in GABP's history. The Reds have scored 17 runs since the All-Star break; seven of them have come on solo home runs. At no point have they had a lead of more than one run in the 10 games. They had an opportunity in the second to add on to Mesoraco's double. Brayan Pena had a one-out double but was easily thrown out at home plate when third base coach Steve Smith waved him around third on a bloop single to center field by Kristopher Negron. Negron went to second base on the play but Zack Cozart flew out to right field to end the threat.

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The Reds didn't get another hit until Negron led off the eighth inning with a single to right. It was the first two-hit game of his career, but he was again stranded at second base. Miguel Montero, Arizona's All-Star catcher, tied the game in the fourth inning with a RBI single off the wall in the right field to score Mark Trumbo, who had doubled. Jay Bruce ran down Trumbo's drive into the right-center field gap but the ball hit off his glove as he made a leaping attempt to catch it. That's the way things stood until the 15th. The Reds never got another runner past second base. The Diamondbacks were retired 14 times in a row at one point, but in a game that at some point someone was going to break through, they did. The Reds have fallen one game under .500 (52-53) for the first time since they were 36-37 on June 21. "I think this is a tough team and there's a lot of heart on this club," said Bailey. "We just have to keep believing. Yesterday is gone. Last week is gone. Somewhere along the way we're just going to have to turn it around and that's going to come from the 25 guys who are suiting up every day. It's not just the hitters. It's not the defense. It's not the pitching. Either we're going to have to find a way or we're going to be going home early. There's no secret about that."

D-backs activate Pacheco By Sports Network / Athlon Sports http://athlonsports.com/mlb/d-backs-activate-pacheco Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated infielder/catcher Jordan Pacheco from the 15-day disabled list and placed infielder/outfielder Nick Evans on unconditional release waivers. Pacheco is hitting .375 (3-for-8) with a double and two runs scored in eight games for the D-backs since being claimed off waivers from the Rockies on June 12. In 30 games this season between the Rockies and Diamondbacks, he is batting .250 with seven doubles and eight RBI. Evans hit .273 (6-for-22) with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI in 18 games for the D-backs this season.

Nationals trade rumors as deadline nears BY ADAM KILGORE / The Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2014/07/28/nationals-trade-rumors-as-deadline-nears/ Thursday’s non-waiver trade deadline now stands only three days away, and the Nationals are, as ever, somewhat hard to read. They “seem to be very busy on multiple fronts,” as one executive from a selling team put it. Or, “it’s seems pretty quiet right now,” as another person familiar with their thinking said. The Nationals don’t need to make a trade given the lack of holes on their big league roster, and General Manager Mike Rizzo has said he won’t place the urgency of this season ahead of the organization’s long-term outlook. But the Nationals are still working in preparation for a possible deal.

They have been scouring for a reliever to deepen their bullpen, the most likely move they’ll make if they do make one. They’ve been looking for young shortstops, and their work on that now could be more laying groundwork for the winter. They could consider available infielders who could also fit on future rosters with Ryan Zimmerman currently out for an indefinite period of at least three or four weeks. Here are a few notes and some dot-connecting as the deadline nears. >>> The Nationals have inquired with the Astros about their relievers, one person familiar with the situation said, and the Astros scouted both Class A Potomac and Class AAA Syracuse over the weekend. It’s not clear which reliever the Nationals would focus on, but left-hander Tony Sipp best fits the Nationals’ preferences. He wouldn’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2015 season. This year, he has struck out 42 and walked seven (five unintentional) with a 2.37 ERA in 30 1/3 innings. Left-handed hitters have gone 5 for 51 (.098) against him, while he’s held right-handers to a .211 average. Astros General Manager Jeff Lunhow told reporters last week he would “probably not” be able to trade any relievers, but the Astros would have to consider a deal given their position 13 1/2 games back from the AL Wild Card. >>> The Nationals have been monitoring the Red Sox, who already traded starter Jake Peavy and at 48-57 stand 10 1/2 games out of first in the AL East. Per FOX Sports’s Ken Rosenthal, the Nationals had a scout in attendance for the Rays-Red Sox series in Tampa this weekend. That scout was just on his usual coverage. But the Nationals also had one of their top evaluators in Boston the previous weekend when the Red Sox were playing the Royals.

Reds offense continues to sputter in 15 inning loss By Joe Danneman / WXIX http://www.fox19.com/story/26135346/reds-offense-continues-to-sputter-in-15-inning-loss (FOX19) - The Reds only scored one run in a 15 inning loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 on Monday night. Nick Ahmed's 15th inning RBI single off J.J. Hoover gave the Reds their ninth loss in 10 games since the end of the All Star break. The streak has dropped the Reds below .500 for the first time since late June. The Reds' offense has been the issue, scoring just 17 runs in those 10 games. Devin Mesoraco hit a second inning solo home run for the Reds only run of the game. That ended a streak of three straight games without a home run at Great American Ball Park – the longest in the history of GABP. Homer Bailey started the game for the Reds on the mound and only allowed one earned run in eight innings pitched.

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The first place Brewers lost Monday night, so the Reds remain six games out of first place in the NL Central.

RENO ACES

Aces use big inning to down Isotopes By Staff / Reno Gazette-Journal http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/2014/07/29/aces-use-big-inning-isotopes/13307451/ The Reno Aces scored six runs in the fifth inning and went on to take a 6-0 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes on Monday at Aces Ballpark. Charles Brewer started and pitched eight innings, allowing three hits to get the win. Brewer also went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in three runs. Brewer ripped a three-run double to help his cause. Brewer retired the side in order in the first, and then worked around a lead-off double by Clint Robinson in the second inning. He then retired 15 of the next 16 batters. The Aces put runners on in each of the first three innings but couldn't push anything across against former Aces hurler Barry Enright. They finally broke through in the fifth inning with six runs. Mike Freeman led off with a double, followed by a Bobby Wilson single and a Ronny Cedeño walk to load the bases. After falling behind 0-2, Brewer fouled off three pitches before lacing his double into right-center field. Roger Kieschnick, Aaron Cunningham, and Freeman all drove in a run a piece in the inning. Reno's six-run outburst marked the eighth time this season it scored six or more runs in an inning, and the second time this series. Brewer locked it down from there, cruising through eight innings to record his longest outing of the season for the Aces. Will Harris came in to work the ninth inning and seal the shutout for Reno. The blanking was the eighth of the season for the Aces, putting them two shutouts behind the single-season club record. Aaron Cunningham and Mike Freeman each went 2-for-4 as the Aces improved to 58-52. Albuquerque dropped to 52-58. Enright started and took the loss, allowing six runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. Reno plays at Fresno tonight. In Saturday's game, nine players and Reno Aces manager Phil Nevin were ejected during the second inning after a bench-clearing brawl. The Pacific Coast League is expected to dole out punishments this week.

Also Monday, the Aces, in conjunction with the Arizona Diamondbacks, announced Jordan Pacheco has ended his rehab assignment in Reno and was reinstated from the Diamondbacks' disabled list. The Diamondbacks released former Ace Nick Evans. Today's Game Reno Aces at Fresno Grizzlies TIME/RADIO: 7:05 p.m./630 AM PITCHERS: Aces RHP Lucas Harrell (4-2, 5.59) vs. Grizzlies LHP Mike Kickham (7-5, 3.61)

Brewer's big night leads Aces to win Reno starter goes eight scoreless innings in win By Chad Seely and Chris Dierken / Reno Aces http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140729&content_id=86831564&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t2310 RENO, Nev. - The night belonged to Aces right-hander Charles Brewer, who tossed eight scoreless innings and ripped a three-run double to help his cause in the Aces' 6-0 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes Monday night at Aces Ballpark. Brewer retired the side in order in the first, and then worked around a lead-off double by Clint Robinson in the second inning. He then retired 15 of the next 16 batters, and when all was said and done only allowed three hits in the game The Aces put runners on in each of the first three innings but couldn't push anything across against former Aces hurler Barry Enright. They finally broke through in the fifth inning with six runs. Mike Freeman led off with a double, followed by a Bobby Wilson single and a Ronny Cedeño walk to load the bases. After falling behind 0-2, Brewer fouled off three pitches before lacing his double into right-center field. Roger Kieschnick, Aaron Cunningham, and Freeman all drove in a run a piece in the frame. Reno's six-run outburst marked the eighth time this season it scored six or more runs in an inning, and the second time this series. Brewer locked it down from there, cruising through eight innings to record his longest outing of the season for the Aces. Will Harris came in to work the ninth inning and seal the shutout for Reno. The blanking was the eighth of the season for the Aces, putting them two shutouts behind the single-season club record. Reno travels to Fresno tomorrow to open a four-game series against the Grizzlies. The Aces will send Lucas Harrell (4-2, 5.59) to the hill for the start in game one, and Fresno will counter with Mike Kickham (7-5, 3.61). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Single-game tickets are on sale for the remainder of the 2014 season. For more information, or to purchase an Aces ticket plan, call (775) 334-4700. For up-to-date news and notes throughout the offseason, visit www.RenoAces.com, follow the club on Twitter (@aces) or like the team on Facebook.

MOBILE BAYBEARS

Watch the massive minor league baseball brawl that resulted in 10 ejections By Creg Stephenson / AL.com http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/07/watch_the_massive_minor_league.html Things continue to get a little chippy in minor league baseball. A day after the Birmingham Barons and Jacksonville Suns were involved in a wild brawl, the Triple-A Reno Aces and Albuquerque Isotopes engaged in a melee in Reno, Nevada. The incident resulted in 10 ejections. According to ESPN.com, Aces pitcher Mike Bolsinger threw inside at Isotopes infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena in the top of the second inning, but did not hit him. Both benches cleared at that point, but no punches were thrown. Arruebarrena struck out a few pitches later, then shoved aces catcher Blake Lalli and threw his helmet at an Aces player that charged him. The benches cleared with fights breaking out all over, including against --- and nearly through --- the netting behind home plate. Albuquerque is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, while Reno is in the Arizona Diamondbacks chain (one level up from the Mobile BayBears). There are two videos below, the first a long shot that shows the entire sequence, the second a closer look from behind home plate. (We issue the usual warnings about any stray curse words you might hear from spectators or players). (VIDEO EMBEDDED)

VISALIA RAWHIDE

Rawhide Hold Off Bakersfield for 12th Straight Win Visalia Rawhide http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140729&content_id=86831782&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t516&sid=t516 BAKERSFIELD--The Rawhide started fast and held on late to record their 12th consecutive win in an 8-7 triumph at Sam Lynne Ballpark on Monday night. The Rawhide loaded the bases in the top of the 1st against Blaze starter Wandy Peralta, and Rudy Flores unloaded on a hanging breaking ball to put the 'Hide ahead 4-0. Two batters later, Socrates Brito homered as well, making it 5-0 'Hide before they took the field defensively. But it wouldn't be easy for the Rawhide; Bakersfield chipped away with single runs in the 3rd and 4th (and left 3 runners in those innings as well, after stranding 2 in the 2nd inning).

But Visalia scored 3 more in the top of the 5th; with 1 out, Breland Almadova tripled to right field; Alex Glenn brought him home with an RBI single to make it 6-2 Rawhide. Then, Brandon Drury tripled to score Glenn and make it 7-2; Rudy Flores singled Drury home to give the 'Hide a seemingly comfortable 8-2 cushion. As it turned out, though, they would need every bit of it. Bakersfield jumped right back into the game in the bottom of the 5th; after 2 runners reached with 1 out, and Marquez Smith blasted a 3-run shot to left-center, and it was 8-5. Bakersfield stranded 2 runners in the 6th and 8th, but left them both times. In the bottom of the 9th, though, Sebastian Elizalde doubled to begin the bottom of the 9th, and with 1 out, Marquez Smith homered again, shaving Visalia's lead to 8-7. But Enrique Burgos then struck out Harold Riggins and retired Juan Perez on a ground ball to remain perfect in save opportunities (22 for 22), and give Visalia their 12th straight win. It kept them a game ahead of San Jose for the Wild Card and 3 behind Stockton in the 2nd Half standings.

SOUTH BEND SILVER HAWKS

HILLSBORO HOPS

Hillsboro scores early and often on way to win By Preston Toulon / Hillsboro Hops http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140729&content_id=86829320&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t419 Hillsboro, OR - The Hillsboro Hops were solid in all facets of the game en route to a comfortable 6-1 victory over the suddenly sliding Boise Hawks at Ron Tonkin Field. Kyle Anderson took the mound for the Hops (27-18, 5-2), who have shown no signs of slowing down after already securing a play-off berth in the first half of the season. Anderson allowed one unearned run in four innings of work, flashing swing-and-miss stuff while recording four strikeouts. Anderson was opposed by Trevor Clifton of the Hawks (24-21, 2-5) who was hit hard and struggled with his command, allowing ten base runners in his 3 2/3 innings. To make matters worse for Clifton, he was the victim of shaky defense as Boise committed two errors in the first four innings. It was a barrage of base hits for the Hops, who jumped on the Hawks early and refused to let up. Hillsboro tallied two in the first inning after Pedro Ruiz worked a leadoff walk and moved to third on Nyisztor's double down the right field line. George Roberts produced the first RBI of the night with a sacrifice fly to shallow center, and Heyman followed with a drilled double to the left-center field gap, plating Nyisztor. Boise responded with an unearned run in the top of the third when Galli Cribbs threw high to first base attempting to turn a double play, allowing Bryant Flete to score from third. That would be all the Hawks could muster against the Hops hurlers.

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Holding a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth, Hillsboro removed any concerns by posting three runs on a Heyman RBI single, a steal of home, and a wild pitch. The steal of home has become a staple in the Hops playbook when runners are on first and third. Heyman broke for second, drawing a throw from Boise's catcher, allowing Roberts to scoot home safely from third. Hillsboro tallied their sixth and final run in the bottom of the fifth when Jake Mayers scored on a Ruiz RBI groundout. Dan Savas came on to earn the win for the Hops, posting three scoreless innings, and Jared Miller followed him and made his professional debut with a scoreless inning. Mason McCullough finished off the dominant pitching performance for Hillsboro with a scoreless ninth inning, lighting up radar guns into the high-90's. The Hops will try for a three-game sweep of the Boise Hawks tomorrow night at 7:05 PM at Ron Tonkin Field. Oregon State University product Scott Schultz (2-2, 4.19) gets the ball for Hillsboro. Boise will counter with Joshua Conway (0-0, 3.26). Remember to tune into the pregame radio show on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.foxsportsradio620.com at 6:35 PM.

Hillsboro Hops blow by Boise Hawks, 6-1 By Andrew Nemec / Oregonian http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro-hops/index.ssf/2014/07/hillsboro_hops_blow_by_boise_h.html#incart_river Hillsboro scattered six runs and allowed Boise a single in the third inning before claiming a 6-1 victory against the Hawks on Monday evening. Dan Savas (3-0) picked up the win on the mound for the Hops. Hillsboro finishes off a three-game series against Boise on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m.

MISSOULA OSPREY

Six Runs Allowed In First Doom Osprey Justin Williams One Game Away From Tying Missoula Hit Streak Record Missoula Osprey http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140729&content_id=86822402&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t518 MISSOULA, Mont. - Great Falls came out on fire and put six runs on the scoreboard in the opening frame and bashed six home runs in a 12-4 defeat of Missoula. The loss dropped the Osprey to 0-3 in the second half and 17-24 overall. Great Falls (2-1, 25-16) continued the series pattern through nine games of the away team coming away victorious in each matchup. Trevor Mitsui belted his team-high tenth dinger of the year to lead off the second inning. Missoula's other scoring inning came in the fifth, when Justin Williams launched a sacrifice fly to right field and Damion Smith followed later in the inning with a two-run single. Williams singled back in the third inning to run his hit streak to 23 games.

For Great Falls, the six runs in the first would hand Gabriel Moya (2-3) the loss on two-thirds of a inning, five hits, six runs, four earned, a walk and two strikeouts. Kevin Simmons was stellar in relief until giving up back-to-back solo shots in the fifth inning. Simmons would put together 5.1 innings of relief with a career-best five strikeouts. Alex Powers (1-1) got the win in relief for the Voyagers with two shutout frames in the sixth and seventh innings. Starter Zach Thompson went 4.1 innings and gave up five hits on three earned runs with three walks and four strikeouts. Offensively, Zach Fish and Toby Thomas each homered for the Voyagers while Dillon Haupt and Patrick Palmeiro went yard twice. Tomorrow figures to be a great pitching matchup as Missoula sends righty starter Dallas Newton on the mound with a 2-1 record and a 2.57 ERA against Great Falls starter Chris Freudenberg. The Voyager lefty is 3-3 with a 2.70 ERA. Missoula continues its six-game homestand tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. against the Great Falls Voyagers. Tickets for all Osprey games are available at the MSO Hub Box Office, by phone at (406) 543-3300 and online at MissoulaOsprey.com.

NATIONAL

MLB NEWS July 29, 2014 • sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews July 29, 2014

Giants CHAT with Andrew Baggarly -- 10:30 a.m. (7.29.14) 11:51 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Once healthy, Brandon Morrow will likely rejoin the Blue Jays as a reliever 11:50 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Great Moments in Steroids Derp 11:42 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Health officials confirm Rays reliever Joel Peralta contracted mosquito-borne chikungunya virus 11:19 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Braves-Dodgers Preview 11:16 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Most people in L.A. still can’t see Dodgers games. There’s some progress though. Kinda 11:03 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Zimmermann returns to form in dominant start 11:00 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

“Disinterested” Felix Doubront sure seems like he’s trying to get the Red Sox to trade him 10:47 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Get the latest news and rumors 10:21 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Orioles open homestand against Angels 10:14 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

More and more teams calling Red Sox about Lester 10:12 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

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Discarded by the Twins, Vance Worley has turned his career around with the Pirates 10:05 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Rays pitchers upset with 'showboat' David Ortiz 9:53 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Must-click link: sexual depravity — and possibly rape — in the minor leagues 9:46 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Arolids Chapman broke 104 m.p.h. on his fastball last night 9:16 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Neil Walker turned a fantastic double play last night 8:55 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Wakeup Call: Indians begin shopping Masterson 8:25 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Yu Darvish: “I just blame the parents of Brett Gardner” 8:23 am EDT (NBC Sports)

And That Happened: Monday’s scores and highlights 5:00 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Team Report - PITTSBURGH PIRATES 4:08 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Team Report - TORONTO BLUE JAYS 4:08 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Team Report - BOSTON RED SOX 4:08 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Team Report - OAKLAND ATHLETICS 4:08 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Team Report - SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 4:08 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Team Report - HOUSTON ASTROS 4:08 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Hot Hitter Rundown 3:57 am EDT (Rotoworld)

Rays' Archer not backing off comments about Boston's Ortiz 3:26 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Rockies' Tulowitzki creates stir with decision to watch Yankees' Jeter 3:19 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Jays deal for Valencia's right-handed bat 3:02 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Red Sox shopping Lester 2:40 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Rewind: Bochy, Giants 'buffaloed' by home woes 2:25 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Pirates-Giants Preview 2:16 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Pirates' Worley stifles Giants for first career shutout 2:05 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Rockies-Cubs Preview 1:50 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Worley tosses 4-hitter, Pirates beat Giants 5-0 1:50 am EDT (The Associated Press)

A's injuries open door for rookie Burns 1:50 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Wada earns 1st MLB win as Cubs beat Rockies 1:45 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Yankees-Rangers Preview 1:36 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Travis d'Arnaud homers, Mets crush Phillies 7-1 1:31 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Marlins score 4 in 9th to beat Nationals 7-6 1:31 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Ahmed sends Dbacks over Reds 2-1 in 15 innings 1:30 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Carter leads Astros homer-happy win over Athletics 1:29 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Oberholtzer roll continues against the A's 1:20 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Houston)

Athletics-Astros Preview 1:19 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Diamondbacks-Reds Preview 1:13 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Darvish 8 Ks as Rangers beat Jeter, Yankees 4-2 1:11 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Rewind: Chavez's struggles cap sour day for A's 1:05 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Daily Dose: Own Odorizzi 12:53 am EDT (Rotoworld)

Instant Replay: Bumgarner shaky early, Giants lose 5-0 12:50 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Greg Maddux could be a great manager (if he ever wants the job) 12:49 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Blue Jays-Red Sox Preview 12:42 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Phillies-Mets Preview 12:40 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Diamondbacks edge Reds in 15th inning 12:40 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

After meltdown, Nationals must bounce back 12:38 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Arencibia keys Rangers' win over Yankees 12:34 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Game roundup: Melky homers twice, Jays rip Red Sox 12:33 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Report: Red Sox open to trading Lester and Lackey 12:23 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Astros hit four homers in win over A's 12:21 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Cabrera, Dickey lead Blue Jays over Red Sox 14-1 12:12 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Cubs' Wada beats Rockies for first victory 12:08 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

A.J. Burnett flops in final start before deadline 12:06 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)

Nationals-Marlins Preview 12:05 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Cabrera hits two homers in Jays' rout 12:05 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Doubront seems disinterested in loss to Blue Jays 12:01 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

July 28, 2014

Marlins score four runs in ninth to win 11:52 pm EDT (The SportsXchange)

Werth hopes to play Tuesday after spraining ankle 11:48 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Report: Red Sox open to trading both Jon Lester and John Lackey 11:41 pm EDT (NBC Sports)

Brewers-Rays Preview 11:40 pm EDT (The Associated Press)

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27

Colon helps Mets beat Phillies 11:30 pm EDT (The SportsXchange)

Rays, Odorizzi continue to roll, defeating Brewers 11:30 pm EDT (The SportsXchange)

Buchholz, Doubront struggle as Jays destroy Sox, 14-1 11:27 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Cubs could become buyers with Cuban OF Rusney Castillo 11:07 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Odorizzi goes 7 strong, Rays beat Brewers 2-1 11:03 pm EDT (The Associated Press)

Instant Replay: Astros tee off on Chavez, beat A's 7-3 11:02 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Jeter passes Yastrzemski on all-time hits list 10:58 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Four homers power Astros over A's 10:49 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Houston)

Jeter 7th on MLB hits list in final Texas series 10:43 pm EDT (The Associated Press)

Inside Pitch: Moss' toughness helps A's deal with injuries 10:43 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Nationals surrender four runs in 9th, fall 7-6 to Marlins 10:39 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

VIDEO: Derek Jeter passes Carl Yastrzemski for seventh on all-time hits list 10:26 pm EDT (NBC Sports)

MLB TRANSACTIONS July 29, 2014 • MLB.com http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

LAST UPDATED: TUE, JULY 29, 2014, 11:11 EDT

MONDAY, JULY 28, 2014

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Arizona Diamondbacks

Nick Evans Released

Arizona Diamondbacks

Jordan Pacheco

Removed From 15-Day DL, (Right shoulder tendinitis)

Arizona Diamondbacks

Jordan Pacheco

Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment

Baltimore Orioles

Preston Guilmet

Called Up from Minors

Baltimore Orioles

T.J. McFarland

Placed on Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List

Boston Red Sox

Andres Torres

Released

Colorado Rockies

Boone Logan

Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation

Colorado Rockies

Justin Morneau

Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation

Kansas City Royals

Brett Hayes Designated for Assignment

Kansas City Royals

Christian Colon

Called Up from Minors

Kansas City Royals

Liam Hendriks

Sent to Minors

Los Angeles Angels

C.J. Wilson

Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation

Los Angeles Dodgers

Barry Enright

Signed to a Minor League Contract

Los Angeles Dodgers

Darwin Barney

Traded From from Cubs, Chi. Cubs (for player to be named)

Miami Marlins

J.T. Realmuto

Sent to Minors

Miami Marlins

Jake Marisnick

Called Up from Minors

New York Yankees

Zoilo Almonte

Called Up from Minors

New York Yankees

Jeff Francis Designated for Assignment

Oakland Athletics

Craig Gentry

Placed on 15-Day DL, (Broken right hand)

Oakland Athletics

Billy Burns Purchased From Minors

Pittsburgh Pirates

Gerrit Cole

Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation

San Diego Padres

Jedd Gyorko

Removed From 15-Day DL, (Plantar fasciitis, left foot)

San Diego Padres

Jason Lane Purchased From Minors

San Diego Padres

Jedd Gyorko

Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment

San Diego Padres

Brooks Conrad

Sent to Minors

San Diego Padres

Carlos Quentin

Placed on 15-Day DL, (Left knee soreness)

Tampa Bay Rays Joel Peralta

Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment

Tampa Bay Rays Joel Peralta

Removed From 15-Day DL, (Illness)

Tampa Bay Rays Erik Bedard Designated for Assignment

Texas Rangers Justin Cleared Waivers and Became a

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28

Marks Free Agent

Toronto Blue Jays

Liam Hendriks

Called Up from Minors, - Not to Report

Toronto Blue Jays

Erik Kratz

Called Up from Minors, - Not to Report