Tuesday, April 3, 2018

D-Backs Get Into Their Nitro Zone


by Jason Franz

After Monday’s Neverending Story of a ballgame, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts tried to wave off any concern about Kenley Jansen’s loss of velocity and second blown save by saying, “Kenley still has the ability to throw strikes when he needs to. Just the pitch to Owings, it was a cutter that was down and in his nitro zone.”

The Nitro Zone. According to the interwebs, the Nitro Zone is an antibacterial salve for cats and dogs. But based on Roberts’ use of the term, it must be the happy place for batters where fluffy baseball pitches go to die.

Both the Diamondbacks and Dodgers returned to Chase Field after their five hour and 45-minute tilt to get back at it, only this time with Clayton Kershaw taking the ball for LA. Kershaw, already the victim of an absent offense in the season opener, went looking for the Nitro Zone of more D-Backs tonight, allowing David Descalso and David Peralta to unleash their nitro and stake Arizona to a lead they would not surrender. This made starter Zack Godley excited.

Kershaw lasted through the 6th, only to make way for the tandem of Scott Alexander and Pedro Baez who combined to WALK IN 3 RUNS WHILE THE BASES WERE LOADED. It was as if the Dodgers were trying hard to lose the game. They did, 6-1. The fans got tacos.


LA’s offense continues to sleepwalk, making baseball experts the nation over wonder exactly how much influence Red Jesus really has on this lineup.

As for Arizona, the pitching – from starters through the pen – continue to hold up with a big tip of the sombrero to the position players who just aren’t making any mistakes or stupid plays. As the Rockies, Giants and Padres each continue to decide if they want to actually play baseball this season, the Diamondbacks and Dodgers look to have a long tango this year.

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