Delgado deserved a better fate

Randall Delgado, the Diamondbacks starting pitcher against San Francisco last night, deserved a better fate. Seems to be a familiar tune with the D'backs -- good starting pitching, but no run support.

The Giants beat the D'backs at Chase Field 1-0 in the series opener as Tim Lincecum (8-13) out duels Delgado (4-5). Delgado allows just three hits, while Lincecum gives up six hits. Adam Eaton and Miguel Montero collect two apiece, Paul Goldschmidt had one hit and Martin Prado hit safely -- and that was it.

Arizona falls to 68-65, 10 1/2 games back of the LA Dodgers. The Cincinnati Reds (75-60) lose to Colorado, 9-6, while the Dodgers (79-55) beat San Diego, 9-2.

Arizona rolls in opener

In the Stands Report By Bookemdanosports: Arizona rolls to a 35-0 win over NAU in its season opener -- WITHOUT Ka'Deem Carey.

The 53,000 fans witnessed a little bit of everything from the Wildcats at the Arizona Stadium tonight. B.J Denker got the job done from the quarterback position, Daniel Jenkins ran for 139 yards -- including a 91-yard touchdown run, linebacker Scooby Wright was all over the place -- making tackles, and Tra'Mayne Bondurant intercepted two passes in the third quarter -- one which resulted in a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown.

As for Denker, he rambles for 71 yards, passes for 87 yards and tosses an 11-yard TD pass to Jenkins in the first quarter and rambles in from 30 yards out for a TD in the third quarter.

All in all, not a bad start for the Carey-less Wildcats.

With his one-game suspension in the books, chances are coach Rich Rodriguez will pencil in Carey for some snaps at UNLV next Saturday.

But tonight, it was the Denker-Jenkins show on offense, while the defense, led by the hard-nosed play of Wright and Bondurant will get plenty of print in the local morning paper.

And let's not forget the surprise in the fourth quarter as freshman quarterback Javelle Allen enters the game and scampers 61 yards for the Wildcats' final score.

For those of you wondering who Allen is, his jersey number is #9 and he was that flash of lightning that scored with 4:40 left in the game.

And now it is on to Las Vegas. Shuffle up and deal.

Socks for Soldiers

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

Every year the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club donates socks to the Socks For Soldiers fund -- just one of the many projects the Tucson Area Marine MomS (TAMMS) are involved in through out the year.

Today, Gigi and the girls stopped by the TOTS field at Udall Park to collect an assortment of socks (and some cash, too). The girls were happy with the take this morning as they walked away with bundles and bundles of socks.

The TAMMS girls are always looking for more. So, for all you readers out there who would like to make some donations, contact them at www.NS2.com/TAMMS.

A note to the TOTS from Gigi and the girls:

It was such a pleasure spending some time with the TOTS this morning. All those smiles certainly were refreshing on such a humid morning. I hope we were able to convey just how important your support of the troops is right now and also hope you all walked away with a little more love in your hearts from us and those military members who receive these much needed socks.

Please extend our thanks again to the TOTS. We sincerely can't thank you all enough for your generosity.

Gigi and the Tucson Area Marine MomS.

Photo: The TAMMS girls presented the TOTS with a plaque today in honor of their donation this year to Socks For Soldiers.

  

Pigpen outduels the Alabama Redneck

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

Two right-handers, Danny "Pigpen" Price and Ted "The Alabama Redneck" Davis,  duked it out at Udall Park this morning in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball game.

Both pitchers went the distance today with Price and Team White edging out Davis and Team Blue, 3-2. Price, 68,  threw a shutout until the sixth inning. He struck out two, walked three and allowed six hits, while Davis, 62, struck out three, walked two and allowed just four hits.

Jesse Ochoa, 61, ruined Price's shutout in the top of the sixth when he doubled over the head of 84-year-old right fielder Billy Heiny for a two-run double.

Team White scored all their runs in the first two innings -- getting two runs in the first and then picked up one run in the second on an RBI-single to right field by 87-year-old Floyd Lance.

The two old-timers on the mound this morning -- Price and Davis -- added a "southern flavor" to the game. Davis was born in Athens, Alabama and Price spent his early years in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Both pitchers have spent many years in Arizona and both have lost that "southern twang" in their voices, but the two "southerners" haven't lost their will to compete. Today it was the Razorback vs the Crimson Tide.

Today the Razorback ended up the victor.

Chances are, Price and Davis will "lock horns" again. Oops, that's a Texas football term.

Photos: Davis (top photo), Price (bottom photo)

Wildcats should roll in opener

The Arizona Wildcats should roll on Friday night.

The final score depends on just how many handoffs Ka'Deem Carey will get as Arizona opens up at home against Northern Arizona University.

If coach Rich Rodriguez keeps Carey off the field -- for his off the field antics earlier in the year, then look for the score to be in the neighborhood of 34-10. If Carey gets his share of playing time, then look for the scoreboard to light up and the final seconds tick away with the home team winning 50-14.

There I said it. My first college football prediction of the year. I'm not sure how I did last year, but it doesn't really matter due to the fact nobody listens to me anyway.

It's pretty much a sure bet that Arizona will win its first three games, but it's those remaining contests -- those Pac-12 games which will be hard for the Wildcats to win...or for me to predict.

It could turn out to be an eight-win season, maybe nine, if you stretch the imagination a bit. Of course, if either one of those scenarios pan out...then the Wildcats will go bowling.

Now for the ifs. If the offensive line consistently produces holes for Carey and Daniel Jenkins to run through...if the defense turns out to be one special unit...if B.J. Denker can get the job done week after week at the quarterback position...and if the Wildcats somehow come up with a kicking game...and if!

Well, you get the idea. If all of the above comes to pass, then let's go with double digits -- 10 wins! Let's think positive. After all, I'm a die-hard Wildcat fan.

Goldy gets a day off

The Arizona Diamondbacks were without their all star first baseman last night. Paul Goldschmidt was given the night off after 47 straight starts.

He was missed.

The Diamondbacks fail to get a sweep of San Diego. Arizona loses  5-1, despite a strong effort from Wade Miley (9-9). who goes seven innings -- allowing two earned runs while walking one and striking out five.

I'm sure Miley would rather have had Goldy in the lineup. As a D'back fan, I know I would have preferred the National League RBI leader to be penciled in as a starter.

Goldy will have plenty of time to rest up when the regular season is over -- which is 30 games from now, unless Arizona (68-64) gets hot and can catch Cincinnati for the wild card spot. By the way, Cincinnati and the LA Dodgers won last night.

As for Goldschmidt, his 104 RBI is tops in the National League. Allen Craig (STL) is second with 96 and Brandon Phillips (CIN) is third with 95. Goldy is second in homers in the NL with 31, while Pedro Alvarez (PIT) leads the way with 32.

As for me, a die-hard D'back fan, I hope Goldschmidt is well rested (he gets a second day off today as the Diamondbacks are idle) and comes out with guns a blazin' in the three-game series with San Francisco, which begins Friday at Chase Field.

Birthday Boy gets his win

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball


Lloyd Barzell turned 63 today.

It was his wish to take the mound today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball game at Udall Park. Barzell, better known as "The Baby Bull" loves to compete and loves to pitch -- especially on his birthday.

Barzell went up against lefty Dennis Crowley, another 63 year old, as Team Blue, Barzell's team, battled Team White, Crowley's team, on a hot, muggy and very sticky Wednesday morning at Udall Park.

Team White got the upper hand early, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning and it looked like Barzell's plan to get a pitching victory on his birthday was fading fast.

Fortunately for him, Team Blue fought back, thanks mainly to a three-run homer over the right field fence in the third inning by 60-year-old teammate Tim Tolson, and by the time the sixth inning rolled around the game was tied at  6-6.

In the bottom of the sixth and final at bat for Team Blue, Denny Leonard, 75,  reached on an error, Jerry Hamelin, 72,  walked and Danny "Pigpen" Price, 68,  singled sharply to right field to load the bases.

So, who do you suppose steps into the batter's box? You guessed it. Barzell steps in and hits a liner to deep left field. Mal Zwolinski, 75,  moves two steps to his left and tries to glove the ball. Unfortunately for Crowley and Team White, the ball bounces to the turf and Barzell gets a walk-off 7-6 win.

Let the celebration begin! Happy Birthday, Lloyd!

TOTS Note: Tolson, who hit the three-run homer, turns 61 on Aug. 30. Tolson is the youngest TOT and even Tim is getting older. As of Friday, the TOTS will no longer have a 60-year-old on the club. Happy Birthday, Tim!

Up the Hill and over the hump with Aaron

It is an up the hill battle for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hill... as in Aaron Hill.

Another walk off at Chase Field last night as the Diamondbacks second baseman singles in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning. Arizona down three runs early, battle back and take a 7-3 lead  after six innings of play.

The Diamondbacks take a break midway up the hill, so to speak, and allow the San Diego Padres to tie the game in the top of the eighth at 7-7. The D'backs get their second wind and take the lead 9-7 in the bottom of the eighth, but the Padres counter punch with two runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game once again.

That brings us to the bottom of the 10th. Hill lines a single to deep left center to score Adam Eaton and finally we have a final score of 10-9. It is just never easy for the Diamondbacks.

It took all of the following to get the win:

Eaton goes 3 for 5, scores two runs -- including the game-winning run.

Gerardo Parra  goes 2 for 4, scores once and drives in five of the 10 runs.

Paul Goldschmidt goes 2 for 3, scores twice and drives in his 104th run of the season.

Miguel Montero returns to the lineup, goes 2 for 4 with a walk.

Martin Prado goes 2 for 4, scores twice and drives in three runs.

And, of course, Hill, who provides the walk-off single. He also walked twice and scored a run.

As for the pitching, it took another three-plus shutout innings from middle man Josh Collmenter and a shutout inning in the top of the 10th by Heath Bell (5-2), the eventual winning pitcher.

The Diamondbacks (68-63) climbed down the hill late last night and will regroup this morning, relax for a few hours, and then do battle again tonight with the Padres. Wade Miley (9-8) gets the start tonight as the D'backs go for the sweep.

There's still hope as Cincinnati (74-59) and the LA Dodgers (77-55) both lose last night. The Reds fall to St. Louis, 6-1, and the Dodgers drop a 3-2 contest to the Chicago Cubs.  

Aces slam Rattlers

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

The 60-and-over Tucson Aces are in tuneup mode for the 2013 MSBL World Series, slated for late October in Phoenix.

Today at Udall Park, the Aces came out with guns a blazin' as they roughed up the Arizona Rattlers' starter, George Gafner, for five runs in the first inning and then added single runs in the second, third and fourth en route to a 10-5 win.

The Aces added a couple of insurance runs in the fifth inning as Aces' starter Lloyd Barzell had plenty of runs to work with. Barzell went the distance for the Aces, allowing just two earned runs, while walking four and striking out one.

Ron Petersen (above photo) and Pete Peters led the Aces' hitting attack. Petersen went 2 for 2, walked once and drove in two runs, while Peters knocked in three runs on a sacrifice fly, a bases-loaded walk and a ground out.

Barzell kept the Rattlers off balance as the visitors from the south side had trouble getting the ball out of the infield. Aces first-sacker Tim Tolson, shortstop Dennis Crowley, third-sacker Danny "Pigpen" Price,  Peters, at second base,  and Barzell with a hand full of come-backers, combined for 17 of the 21 outs.

The Aces are edging closer to the MSBL World Series in Phoenix. The Aces have just nine weeks before their first game of the tournament, which is slated for Oct. 28.

Goldschmidt gets his 103rd RBI of the season

During Arizona's 6-1 win over the San Diego Padres last night, Paul Goldschmidt knocked in a run on a ground out and tripled in a run to give him 103 RBI for the season. Goldy has a long way to go to catch Matt Williams and Luis Gonzalez. Williams knocked in 142 runs in 1999, and Gonzalez did the same in 2001.

Arizona improved to 67-63 with its win in the series opener over the Padres as Brandon McCarthy (3-8) pitched seven strong innings and picked up his first win since May 28. Martin Prado continues to produce as he goes 1 for 3 and knocks in three of the Diamondbacks' six runs.

Former Diamondback Ian Kennedy (5-9) gets the starting nod tonight for the Padres, while rookie David Holmberg (0-0) takes the mound for the D'backs.

TOT hopeful singing the blues

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over-baseball

Becoming a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball team is not as easy as it used to be.

Back in 1968 when the organization was founded, Joe Gorman (the founding father) had trouble fielding nine players and here we are 45 years later with a waiting list. The hopeful TOT or "inductee" is now required to fill out a waiver form, sign it and wait his turn.

The club has grown to 55 members, with anywhere from 20 to 25 showing up on a weekly basis at Udall Park to play America's favorite pastime. Eventually, the newcomer is confirmed as a member, receives a hat, and then hustles off to Baum's Sporting Goods to order his TOTS' uniform.

Some hopefuls have waited months to get the phone call -- a call which tells him to "come on down, you're officially a TOT."

Our latest inductee is Mike Taylor, a 61-year-old who has been chomping at the bit for months to get his call. Taylor received his hat a week ago and now has his order in for a brand spanking new uniform.

Taylor has done well in recent practice games. Sure, he's fought off the annoying hamstring pulls, made his share of errors and is still getting his timing down at the plate, but he's officially a TOT -- the waiting is over.  In fact he's now taking it a step further by becoming the final member of the TOTS'  60-and-over MSBL World Series team, which will play in Phoenix this October at the 26th annual  Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

While you're on the waiting list, you can play for the TOTS, if, and only if, the numbers allow it. Many times, there is spot on the field for a newcomer, but many times, they warmup, chase balls in the field and participate in batting practice and then call it a day.

The newcomer can even help out umpiring, do a little score keeping or help put away the gear.

Taylor has done all of the above and is a welcome addition to the club.

Our newest "victim" (I mean TOT hopeful) is 63-year-old Tom Potter. Tom is now going through the "growing pains" of becoming a TOT.

Potter has filled out his paperwork and, surprisingly, over the last two weeks has gotten in some playing time as the "numbers" have allowed him a spot on the field.

In a TOTS' game today, Potter drilled a shot inside the third base bag for a single, but his hamstring pull  kept him from stretching a single into a double. Later in the game, Potter tagged out a runner, but in doing so "stretched the hammy" and had to come out of the game.

"I knew I had the injury and I shouldn't have lunged to make the tag," said Potter, as he leaned up against the fence and stretched out his leg.

Growing pains. All the TOTS have gone through it at one time or another. After all, the ages on the TOTS range in age from 60 to 87.

As for Potter, when he officially becomes a TOT, he will become the club's first comedian. Actually, the club has a lot of so-called comedians, but Tom will be the first "professional" comedian to don a TOTS' uniform.

Potter, a retired Tucson Unified School District and University of Arizona educator, holds a doctorate in education, but has also taken his comedy act to places like the Gaslight Theater and other venues around town. He's been an actor and a magician. He sings the blues, plays the guitar...and the harmonica.

Tom started his career in "show business" as a body guard for Glen Campbell and Ozzie Ozborne.

And now he's on the verge of a new career: Old-Time Baseball, as a member of the Tucson Old Timers.

Photo: TOT hopeful, Tom Potter, singing the blues.

Diamondbacks lose to Phillies, finish 4-6 on road trip

No extra innings in this one.

Just a short, but not so sweet 9-5 loss to the Phillies in Philadelphia today as the Arizona Diamondbacks  pack their bags and head home after a frustrating 4-6 road trip.

Even Patrick Corbin (13-4) couldn't save the D' backs this afternoon. Corbin goes 5 1/3, allows nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits. Most of the D'backs' offense came from their outfielders today as Tony Campano, Adam Eaton and A.J. Pollack combine for six hits, all five of the runs, and four of the five RBIs. Pollack had three hits and drove in three runs, but the Phillies' Roy Halladay (3-4) wins in his first start since May 5.

Arizona falls to 66-63 and now needs some home cooking. Unfortunately, they are already in a pressure cooker!

Middle School Quarterback Update

Wilson 8th Grade Football

Grandson watch

The 2013 middle school football season is just around the corner.

Grandson Jadon Price will again play quarterback and free safety for Wilson Junior High School this season. Last year, Jadon quarterbacked Wilson to an undefeated season as a 7th-grader. This year, Jadon is another year older with plenty of experience under his belt and will lead Wilson to what they hope turns out to be another undefeated season.

Photo: Jadon Price #7 knocking down a pass from his safety position in a middle school exhibition game last Saturday. The 8th-grade Wilson Wranglers begin their season at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at La Cima Middle School.

Go get 'em,  Jadon and the Wranglers.

Wranglers Update: Jadon and the Wranglers win their opener 37-0. Way to go, Wranglers!

Above Photo: Jadon #7 giving some last-minute strategy to his teammate.

Diamondbacks' fans are growing weary

If you are a diehard fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks, then you're a tired puppy this morning.

My goodness, the D'backs struggle to win, but win they did last night in Philadelphia, 12-7, in 18 innings over the Phillies. Arizona evens the Philadelphia series and completes the grueling 10-game road trip today, just hours from now, as both teams shake off the cobwebs and play the rubber game at 10:35 AM (Arizona time).

On a night when the LA Dodgers lose at home to Boston, the Diamondbacks jump out to a 6-0 lead over the Phillies. By the end of the sixth inning the score is 7-3. By the end of the eighth inning it is all tied up at 7-7.

And that's the way it stayed until Adam Eaton opened up the top of the 18th with an RBI-double. Martin Prado followed with an RBI- single, Gerardo Parra knocked in two runs with a single to right and Trevor Cahill, the eventual winning pitcher, capped the five-run D'backs' rally with a single to left as Didi Gregorius scampered home with the 12th and final run of the game.

Cahill (5-10), the Diamondbacks' ninth pitcher of the game, pitched the final four innings -- including the bottom of the 18th as the Phillies went quietly and their fans exited the turnstiles, exhausted.

Seven hours and six minutes! The teams combined to use 20 pitchers. There were 137 at bats, 35 hits, 32 strikeouts and 28 walks. Both teams left a total of 41 runners on base.

After all that, Arizona is 66-62 and close ever so slowly to 9 1/2 games back of the NL West-leading LA Dodgers (76-53).

I'm going back to bed. Happy trails to all my readers. Let's get some sleep.

60-and-over Tucson Old Timers playing America's favorite pastime at Udall Park

The "Green Machine" Ted Davis in "ready position.

Danny "Pigpen" Price unleashes his next offering as Ron Carlson eyes the pitch.

Ed Rife fires his fastball toward the plate.

Denny Leonard looks to advance his teammate to second base.

Lefty Dennis Crowley prepares to "smack" the ball to the opposite field.

The oldest player on the TOTS, 87-year-old Floyd Lance, takes a healthy cut.

Right-hander Lloyd Barzell looking for a "K".

Build "it" and they will come...no matter what their ages are!

GO TOTS!

Reds take 3 of 4 from Diamondbacks

Despite Paul Goldschmidt going 7 for 15 in the four-game series --including a grand-slam home run in Game 2, the Arizona Diamondacks lose three of four in Cincinnati and are just about to fall off the radar of having any chance to make the postseason.

Arizona falls 2-1 today to the Reds, while over in Miami starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw and reliever Brian Wilson combine for a 6-0 shutout as the LA Dodgers beat the Marlins.

The result: The Diamondbacks are now 9 1/2 back of the NL West leading Dodgers (75-52) and seven games back of the Reds for the National League's second wild card spot.

Today it was a wild pitch in the eighth inning by the D'backs reliever Eury De La Rosa (0-1) which allowed Shin-Soo Choo to score from third base with the go ahead run. Cincinnati improves to 73-55 and Arizona falls to 65-61.

Arizona heads for Philadelphia and a three-game series with the Phillies to end the 10-game road trip. The Diamondbacks will return home to face the San Diego Padres, the San Francisco Giants and the Toronto Blue Jays. Arizona had just 36  games left in the regular season and they need to come out on top in most of those games to have any chance at the postseason.

They can't get there with wild pitches or by scoring one run or less per ball game.

Come on D'backs,  start pounding the ball! As Yogi puts it, "It ain't over til it's over."

Baseball Note:  As for Yogi Berra, the Hall of Famer turned 88 years old on May 12, 2013. He once said, "Slump? I ain't in no slump. I just ain't hitting."

Following a little boy's dream

Five years ago I met a little 7-year-old boy.

It was at a barbecue on the east side of Tucson. The boy was running around in the patio and when I was introduced to him, the conversation lasted only seconds, but there were enough words spoken to discover the young one loved baseball and he would like nothing better than to grow up to be a star player and lead his team to a championship.

The boy was in town visiting his grandmother, but would be returning to Seattle, Washington to go back to school, be with his friends and play baseball.

His dream not much different than many youngsters who go to bed at night and quickly find themselves on a baseball field...on a football field or on a basketball court, leading their team to victory. Heck I went through those thoughts, just the other day...and I'm 68 years old. Sixty years ago you can bet I stuck my head in my pillow, went to sleep and entered my own fantasy world -- thinking...what would it be like to hit a home run in Yankee Stadium, or run 100 yards for a score in an NFL game, or drill a last-second shot to win an NBA game.

As I entered the "real world" of Little League baseball, I often wondered what it would be like to find myself in Williamsport, Pa., playing in the Little League World Series. Little did I know at the time, those moments are for a select few, the best of the best, the cream of the crop of 12 year olds, who somehow...someway make it to the big time -- the LLWS, to play in front of 30,000 people, not to mention the millions from around the world watching on television -- witnessing their every move.

I, of course, never realized my dream of being a Little League World Series hero, but that little boy I met five years ago has done just that.

Will Armbruester plays first base and pitches for the Eastlake Little League team out of  Sammamish, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. Will bats third in a hard-hitting lineup which is just one game away from the  U.S. Championship at the 2013 Little League World Series.

Sammarmish, the champions out of the Northwest bracket, will face Connecticut, the  Northeast champions, this evening for the right to play California, the West division champions,  on Saturday for the U.S. title. The California team is out of the San Diego area and they are members of the Eastlake Little League.

If Sammarmish wins tonight then the announcers will have their hands full announcing the title game, since both teams are called Eastlake.

As for the little boy I met a few years back, I just want to say, "Good luck, Will, and follow that dream.

Photo: Will Armbruester (sitting behind his coach) and a few of his teammates, awaiting their next game at the 2013 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

LLWS Update: Will and his teammates' run at the 2013 Little League World Series came to an end this afternoon (8-23-13) as Connecticut beat the team from Sammamish, Washington 14-13 in a slugfest to advance to the U.S. Championship game, scheduled for Saturday against California.

Final LLWS Update: Tokyo, Japan outlasts Chula Vista, California, 6-4, to win the 2013 Little League World Series championship today (8-25-13) in Williamsport, Pa. Tijuana, Mexico edges Westport, Connecticut, 14-13, to win the consolation title for third place.

My Fantasy Draft

My fantasy football live draft could have gone better, but it could have been worse.

I was forced to draft a quarterback early. I wanted to pick up a couple of running backs in the first two rounds and then grab a quarterback, but it didn't work out that way. The good news: I picked Drew Brees (New Orleans). The bad news: I lost out on the likes of Adrian Peterson (MINN) and Marshawn Lynch (SEA), but I did get running backs DeMarco Murray (DAL) and Stevan Ridley (NE). As for wide receivers, well the top dogs got away, but I did obtain three receivers -- Marques Colston (NO), DeSean Jackson (PHI) and Antonio Brown (PIT).

I picked up Jermichael Finley (Green Bay) as my starting tight end and just because I wanted a player close to home, I added Rashard Mendenhall (ARIZ) to complete my starting offense. I added Dan Bailey (DAL) as my kicker and my two defenses (not the best) are Baltimore and the New York Giants. Those two maybe rotated each week (it'll be a real guessing game as to which one to go with).

My backup quarterback will be Eli Manning (NY Giants). As for the rest of the bench, nothing to write home about. Maybe I can do some trading down the road. For now, my bench includes Justin Blackmon (JAC), LaMichael James (SF), Jonathan Stewart (Carolina) and Mercedes Lewis (JAC).

Our 12-team fantasy league (UPC Hood Fantasy Football League) gets underway on Sept. 5.

Goldschmidt reaches triple digits!

Paul Goldschmidt hit his third grand slam of the season -- a Diamondbacks record --to lead Arizona to a 5-2 win over the Reds in Cincinnati tonight. Goldy became the first player in the National League to reach triple digits this year. His home run tonight was his 31st of the season and the four RBIs gives him 100 for the season.

While Goldschmidt was busy doing his thing, the D'backs ace Patrick Corbin was doing his. Corbin (13-3)  pitched a complete game, struck out 10 and allowed six hits as Arizona improves to 65-59 and keeps pace with the LA Dodgers, who also won 6-4 in Miami tonight.

Martin Prado hit his 12th home run of the season in the fourth inning to give the D'backs an early 1-0 lead.

The win over the Reds evened the four-game series at 1-1. Brandon McCarthy (2-7) gets the starting nod  tomorrow night for the Diamondbacks.

The clock is ticking as my Fantasy Football live draft is just hours away

My Fantasy Football League

Team Priceless


It's hard to believe but it is almost time for Fantasy Football. This will be my fourth year as a member of the UPC Hood Fantasy Football League. I haven't exactly blown away my fellow foes over the last three years. If I remember correctly the best I have done is an eighth-place finish out of ten teams.

This year, the league will expand to 12 teams and for the first time we will have a live draft. It has always been an automatic draft (the luck of the draw) in the past, but today, at 7 p.m. (Arizona time),  the live draft will begin.

So, that means I can no longer blame my season-ending results on the luck of the draw. This time I may actually have to do a little work as I pluck a name every minute and a half from a list of NFL stars.

I'll keep the same team name. It's kinda catchy: Team Priceless. But as I said earlier the Price is not always Right.

As for the rest of the league, there are some crazy team names. The others: A-Team, Suh-nami, Nuts to Butts, Peach Fuzz Manholes, Assassins, Nut Rub, Mega Powers, Trojan Girl, Team Arps, Three Feet Right and Blitz.

Don't ask me the reasoning behind some of those names!

Diamondbacks beat Pirates in 16 innings

It took a while but the Arizona Diamondbacks knock off the Pirates 4-2 in 16 innings today in Pittsburgh. Adam Eaton goes 4 for 7,  including a two-run double in the top of the 16th to put the D'backs ahead for good.

Arizona gets eight scoreless innings from "the men in the bullpen" with Brad Ziegler (7-1) getting the win and J.J. Putz the save.  The D'backs collect 15 hits as Aaron Hill matches Eaton with a 4 for 7 performance. Eaton's double was his third of the season and his four hits were a career high, while Hill also recorded a double -- his 18th of the season.

Arizona improves to 64-58 and picks up a game on the LA Dodgers, who lost 3-2 in Philadelphia today. The Diamondbacks are now 7 1/2 back of the Dodgers (72-51) and head to Cincinnati for an important  four-game series with the Reds. Arizona is now five games back of Cincinnati (70-54) in the race for the second National League wild-card spot.

Randall Delgado (4-3) will get the start tomorrow night in Cincinnati. The Reds will counter with Bronson Arroyo (11-9).

Dodgers are unstoppable!

The LA Dodgers are unstoppable!

They win again tonight in Philadelphia by the score of 5-0.

The Dodgers have now won 42 of their last 50 games, are 22 games over .500 and maintain their 8 1/2 game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Diamondbacks even series with Pittsburgh

The Arizona Diamondbacks evened the three-game series with the Pirates with a 15-5 win today in Pittsburgh. The D'backs pounded out 20 hits -- four of them coming from Martin Prado and three each from Paul Goldschmidt and Didi Gregorius.

Prado, Goldschmidt and Wil Nieves knocked in three runs apiece. Prado hit his 11th homer of the year and Goldschmidt completed the onslaught over the Pirates with a three-run shot in the 9th inning, his 30th home run of the season. Goldy now leads the National League with 96 RBI.

The Diamondbacks, who lost the opener 6-2 to the Pirates yesterday, exploded at the plate today and improved their record to 63-58. Trevor Cahill (4-10) goes five innings and picks up the win. He singled in two runs in the third inning to help his cause.

Arizona will close out the three-game series with a day game tomorrow. Wade Miley (9-8) gets the nod in the finale in Pittsburgh (72-50). The Diamondbacks will then move on to Cincinnati (69-54) for a four-game series, before closing out the 10-game road trip with three games in Philadelphia (53-69).

Dodgers follow suit, duplicate D'backs win

The LA Dodgers are 40-8 since June 22 as they won at home again last night with a walk-off victory in the bottom of the 12th inning. The Dodgers have everything going for them right now including the great announcer Vince Scully, who must be having the time of his life right now.

If anyone can put the Dodgers' amazing run into perspective, it's gotta be Scully.

Our own Arizona Diamondbacks won last night in the same fashion. The Dodgers won 5-4 in the bottom of the 12th at Dodger Stadium and D'backs won 5-4 at Chase Field in 14 innings! Even with the Dodgers' amazing streak, the D'backs are 7 1/2 back, still clinging...still praying that LA will run out of magic.

Speaking of MAGIC, isn't Magic Johnson the owner of this high-flying team?

It's a good time in LA these days. All the Dodger fans are awaiting a Hollywood finish.

Let's start a new story line: Diamondbacks come alive down the stretch, while Dodgers fold.

The Diamondbacks are going to have to do it the hard way as they head out on a 10-game road trip, which includes stops in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Philadelphia. Oh, my goodness!

Now, let's look at the Dodgers. They head to Philadelphia for three games, Miami for four, before returning home to face Boston in a three-game series.

Let's call it a push for both teams with that schedule.

After that, the D'backs will face the Padres at Chase Field and the Dodgers will be at home to face the Chicago Cubs.

Another push.

One thing is for sure, if the Diamondbacks are still 7 1/2 games out after all the above games are accounted for, then, maybe...just maybe, I'll give in and start listening to Vince Scully.

Hill supplies D'backs with winning hit in 14th inning

Aaron Hill came through in the ninth inning to tie the game and then supplied the winning RBI in the 14th inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Baltimore 5-4 this afternoon and end up sweeping the three-game series with the Orioles.

Hill, who had singled to left field in the ninth to knock in Gerardo Parra to get the D'backs even at 4-4, ripped a pitch up the middle off Bud Norris, the Orioles' eighth pitcher of the game, and Parra, who had walked earlier in the inning,  scampered home with the game-winning run.

Patrick Corbin (12-3), the Diamondbacks starting pitcher, went seven innings today and allowed all four runs.  Arizona used seven pitchers with Heath Bell (4-1) getting the win, but it was the pitching of Josh Collmenter who kept the Orioles at bay in this one as he pitched three innings (the 11th, 12th and 13th) of shutout ball, while striking out five batters.

Arizona improves to 62-57 and open a three-game series in Pittsburgh (71-48) on Friday against the high-flying Pirates.

75-year-old hurls his way to a TOTS' win

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over-baseball

Seventy-five-year old Robert Royer had everything going his way today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball game at Udall Park.

There are four TOTS' pitchers out of a dozen or so who throw regularly for the senior-citizen ball club that can throw the "slow ball" to perfection. The four -- Billy Heiny (83),  Joe Aparicio (79), Archie Burke (80) and Royer -- can flat out frustrate the opposing hitters.

When they come out of the bullpen and head for the mound, the TOTS' power hitters cringe.  More times than not the "Four Musketeers" (a new club nickname for the foursome) will figure out a way to pull off a win.

By the time the TOTS' big hitters get their timing down, the game is over and one of the "Four Musketeers" will add a "W" to their individual TOTS' pitching record.

That's what occurred today as Royer, a former Nuclear Engineer,  didn't strike out a batter, walked just two, and allowed seven meaningless hits en route to a 12-1 victory for Team Blue over Team White.

Royer (above photo) certainly "engineered" his way to a win today as he allowed one lone run -- and the run was unearned.

Of course, the "Four Musketeers" count heavily on their defense to keep them out of trouble when they pitch and they are the first ones to acknowledge their teammates when a great play is made.

Royer had plenty of help today in that regard as center fielder Dennis Crowley flagged down a hand full of hard hit balls, while right fielder Denny Leonard and second baseman Jerry Smarik made a couple of dazzling one-handed catches.

As for Royer, he may just take a week off after his gem today. Bob and his wife, Elaine, head for Southern California on Saturday to start a week-long vacation. "Yep, gonna take a little time off after this one," Royer said, after the game.

Royer said his performance today may have been his best since joining the TOTS in 2004. "A couple of years ago, I did have a 9-0 shutout. I do remember that one."

As for the "big" TOTS' hitters, they just as soon Bob stay on vacation for a couple of weeks.

Goldschmidt does it again!

Paul Goldschmidt  hits the game-winning blast -- a solo shot over the right field fence, to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles in 11 innings at Chase Field tonight.

Goldschmidt tied the game in the ninth inning with his 28th home run of the year and wins it in the bottom of the 11th when he rips the first pitch off Orioles' reliever  T.J. McFarland into the seats for his 29th homer and 93rd RBI of the season.

Heath Bell gets the win in relief to move to 3-1 and the Arizona  Diamondbacks improve to 61-57. Goldy finishes the night 3 for 5 with two runs scored and two  RBI. Gerardo Parra has a good night as well, going 2 for 4 with a double and a home run.

Arizona will try to sweep the three-game series with Baltimore tomorrow afternoon as they send Patrick Corbin (12-3) to the mound.

Four former Diamondbacks smack dab in the middle of a heated pennant race

It's pretty well documented that over the years a lot of "cream of the crop" players on the Arizona Diamondbacks have come and gone due to trades or free agency.

This year alone four of them -- Max Scherzer, Justin Upton, Chris Johnson and Stephen Drew are creating quite a stir as they do their thing for their respective teams -- all of which are at the top of the heap in their respective divisions.

Let's take a look first at Sherzer. Is he having a year or what?

Max is 17-1 with an ERA of 2.84 for the Detroit Tigers. His salary (2012), a cool 3.75 million.

And then there's Upton and Johnson -- both former D'backs and both now with the high-flying Atlanta Braves.

Justin is out-dueling his teammate and brother, B.J. Upton. Justin is batting .267 for the Braves this season, but has ripped 22 home runs with 61 RBI, while Johnson has been even better, maintaining a .338 batting average while hitting eight homers to go along with his 48 RBI. Justin's salary 9.9 million, Johnson 2.3 million.

And then there's Drew, who now plays shortstop for the hard-charging Boston Red Sox. Drew is batting .255 for the Red Sox. He has nine home runs and has driven in 46 runs. Salary: 9.5 million.

Gone from the Diamondbacks, but not forgotten.

Oldtimer takes the mound

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

The fact I reached 68 years of age last month is somewhat of a milestone in my life, seeing as how I pretty much was (how should I say this?) a "wild thing" in the 1970s and 1980s.

One constant in my life has been baseball and I'm, of course, a proud member of the Tucson Old Timers, the oldest organized baseball team in the country. We call ourselves the TOTS and play three days a week, year end and year out, at Udall Park -- back among the trees, two minutes south of the intersection of Sabino Canyon and Tanque Verde roads.

Since 2008, I've been a member of the TOTS and for the most part I have been content taking my familiar spot at third base, although I've been known to play shortstop and second base as well.

I grew up an infielder and made the usual steps, moving from Little League, to Pony League, to American Legion ball to college ball. College ball was short--lived. I went to a junior college, batted .250 and was platooned at second base. My big claim to fame: I got to face Reggie Jackson (a freshman at the time at Arizona State University) and Gary Gentry (the former New York Mets pitcher, who, at the time, was throwing fastballs for one of the junior colleges in the Phoenix area).

I don't remember ever hitting the ball off of Gentry. As for Jackson, the man hit three home runs off us in one game and also came in with his spikes hanging high at second base. I still look for that spike mark from time to time.

Now, some fifty years later, I'm still at it, playing America's favorite pastime: baseball. The game I can't seem to get enough of. My TOTS' teammates keep me going, keep me enthused about the game as I play regularly with players, ranging in age from 60 to 88 (our oldest player turns 88 in three weeks).

All of our members have similar stories and we ALL rehash them from time to time in the dugout. Every TOT has a story, many of them have been documented on this blog. My blog, Bookemdanosports, is now four years old and most of my posts revolve around those remarkable men who take the field with me 52 weeks a year.

Very seldom do I talk about myself. For one thing, there's a "gold mine" of material out there, just rehashing my teammates play on the field, or their background, or simply listening to them in the dugout, telling stories of the "old days".

If you want to "rekindle" the past, recall World War 1 for goodness sake, or World War II, or what happened at the old baseball parks (such as Forbes Field, for example), just sit in our dugout and take in   a two-hour TOTS game.

You'll get an education, one way or another.

There are times when a TOT forgets his age. When he takes the field, flags down a ground ball and throws the runner out at first base, for one split second he's 20 years old again. He's back playing in his hometown, his family is cheering him on. It could be a high school game in Detroit, a neighborhood pickup game in Pittsburgh, a stick ball game in Brooklyn, a steamy American Legion game on a muggy night in southern Alabama.

Wherever the Tucson Old Timer grew up, it's those thoughts that pop up front and center as we complete the "game" on a sunny day at Udall Park. We make the play time after time, we walk back to our position and just maybe for a split second we say to ourselves, "I remember making that play millions of times."

Yes, our arms aren't as strong, our gloves aren't as sure and are legs, at times, seem like they are no longer with us, but we play on.....and on.....and on.

And then there are those times we try something different. We move away from our comfort zone and try a new position. Case in point: Yours truly.

I've got it in my head that I can pitch...or throw...or hurl...or whatever you want to call it.

I'm becoming a quick study of the two-seam fastball, the four seam fastball, the cutter, the curve, the slider and the change up. Would you believe I've tried all those pitches this month -- some of them work, some of them don't.

I went 3-2 during the month of July and this month I'm 0-2. But to my surprise, I'm getting stronger and faster and some of my pitches actually reach the destination that I originally intended them to.

There's a rumor I may be called on to pitch in the 2013 Men's Senior Baseball League (MSBL) World Series in Phoenix in October. Will I be ready? I'll certainly give it the old college try.

Our 60-and-over Tucson Aces team will take the "best of the best" of the TOTS to the senior world Series this October. We will play in the Cactus League and will get a chance to face teams from Australia, the Virgin Islands and Canada. The toughest competition may come from next door -- from San Diego, as the two teams from that area have won it all before.

We have a new team, so to speak. We'll be the new kid on the block and we have a lot to learn fast. This is a first. Yes, we've sent seven or eight players before to the annual world series, some have played in the 60s division, the 65s division and the 70s division, but this will be the first "all TOTS" team to play in the MSBL World Series.

And it looks like we will throw everything -- including the kitchen sink,  at our opponents at this year's series.

Not only am I willing to take the mound, but we have seven others willing to do the same. Our pitching staff will include fellow TOTS, 62-year-old Lloyd Barzell (63 on Aug. 28), 63-year-old Dennis Crowley (64 on Oct. 9), 65-year-old Bob Daliege, 62-year-old Ted Davis, 68-year-old Ron Petersen, 71-year-old Arnie White and 83-year-old Billy Heiny.

Quite a mixture of pitchers...or throwers...or hurlers, whatever you want to call "us".

We have two lefties in the mix -- Crowley and Petersen, and six right-handers.

Can we bring the "heat". Well, just how much can eight players between the ages of 62 and 83 bring to the table.

The TOTS' pitching  staff will lean heavily on the youngest player, 60-year-old Tim Tolson to provide much of the offense for the 60-and-over Tucson team. Tolson joined the TOTS last year and is the club's leading home run hitter. Also expected to add firepower to the attack are Jeff Rein, 61, Pete Peters, 63 and Dave Rhoades, 69.

Two rookies on the TOTS -- 63-year-old Tom Potter and 61-year-old Mike Taylor -- will round out  the 14-member 60-and-over world series team.

Quite a mixture of good old ball players who all bring their talent and strengths to the team.

Wish us luck.

Note: The 60-and-over Cactus division will begin play at the MSBL World Series on October 28. The TOTS will also be represented in the 70-and-over division, which plays the week of October 14. Two players, Arnie White and yours truly, Danny "Pigpen" Price, will be added to the roster of the Arizona Scorpions, along with 74-year-old Chico Bigham, 73-year-old Jeff Helzel and player-manager Jerry Hamelin, 72.

Photo: Yours truly, Danny "Pigpen" Price, at the 2012 MSBL/MABL World Series as a member of the 70-and-over Arizona Scorpions.  This year I'll return to play for the Arizona Scorpions (Oct. 14-20), but will also play with the 60-and-over Tucson Aces (aka Tucson Old Timers), which will be playing at the senior World Series (Oct 28 thru Nov. 2) as a team for the first time.

Eaton walk-off homer gives D'backs a win

Paul Goldschmidt, already 0 for 4 for the night, stood in the on-deck circle in the bottom of the ninth inning at Chase Field tonight, awaiting his turn at the plate. The score: The Orioles 6, the Diamondbacks 6.

The Arizona first baseman had just rushed off the field at the conclusion of the top of the ninth inning. His teammate Brad Ziegler had just blown a save, thanks to a sacrifice fly by Baltimore's Nick  Markakis which tied the game at 6-all.

Goldy had thoughts of bringing the D'backs back -- of putting the game on his shoulders, once again.

This time Goldy didn't get the chance as he watched Adam Eaton crush the first pitch over the right centerfield fence for the game winner, giving the Diamondbacks a dramatic 7-6 victory.

Ziegler moves to 6-1 on the season, Arizona improves to 60-57 and the Diamondbacks avoid falling further behind in the NL West as the Dodgers won 4-2 over the New York Mets in Los Angeles tonight.

Eaton finished the night with a 2 for 5 performance, scored twice and knocked in two runs. Aaron Hill homered for the third straight game as Arizona recorded its 33rd comeback victory of the season and 23rd win in its last at bat.

Mets beat D'backs 9-5 to take series

Not good news for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Arizona falls 9-5 to the New York Mets today at Chase Field and in the process lose Cody Ross, who left the game in the first inning after dislocating his hip as he stumbled at first base in an attempt to beat out a grounder.

Ross is the second player to go down this week. Eric Chavez was placed on the 15-day DL yesterday  with a left knee strain.

Arizona falls to 59-57. The Diamondbacks close out their current homestand with a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. Wade Miley (9-8) takes the mound tomorrow night for the D'backs in the opener.

Dufner battles back to beat Furyk and capture 2013 PGA Championship

Jason Dufner fired a 68 today to win the 2013 PGA Championship in Rochester, NY. by two strokes over Jim Furyk. Dufner carded a four-day total of 270. Dufner shot a 68 on Day 1, tied the course record with a 63 on Day 2, followed up with a 71 on Day 3 and capped it off with a 2-under par  68 just moments ago to win his first major championship.

Alex Rodriquez homers off Verlander

Boos turned to cheers today at Yankee Stadium when Alex Rodriquez hit his first homer of the year off Detroit's Justin Verlander. It was the 648th career home run for Rodriquez, bringing him within 12 of Willie Mays, who is in fourth place all-time with 660.

The top five:

Barry Bonds        762
Hank Aaron        755
Babe Ruth           714
Willie Mays         660
Alex Rodriquez   648 ************

Too bad the feat and A-Rod's totals are followed by an asterisk.

So sad.

Note: If Rodriquez hits 12 more before the end of the regular season to tie Mays, he will then receive an additional 6 million dollars, according to his contract.

Only in America!

Dodgers win, Diamondbacks lose

The Dodgers blank Tampa Bay 5-0 in Los Angeles tonight, while the Arizona Diamondbacks strand 10 runners and fall to the New York Mets 4-1 at Chase Field.

Arizona (59-56) drop a full game in the NL West standings and trail the Dodgers (66-50) by 6 1/2 games. The Diamondbacks only run tonight came on a solo shot from Aaron Hill. Brandon McCarthy (2-6) pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and two runs, but the Diamondbacks left too many runners stranded on the base paths tonight and their current winning streak ends at three.

The Diamondbacks will try to salvage the rubber game of the three-game series with the Mets  on Sunday afternoon when they send Zeke Spruill (0-1, 6.48 ERA) to the mound to face Jonathon Niese (3-6, 4.32 ERA).

Former Wildcat takes the lead on Day 3 of the PGA Championship

Former University of Arizona golfer Jim Furyk has taken the lead on Day 3 of the PGA Championship in Rochester, NY. Furyk, who played for the Wildcats and was an All-American twice and led the UofA to an NCAA title in 1992, fires a 2-under par 68 today and is 9-under after three days at Oak Hill.

Furyk owns a one stroke lead over Jason Dufner who carded a 1-over par 71 today. Dufner set a new course record on Day 2 when he rattled home a 63 -- one stroke away from making PGA history for 18 holes in the game's four biggest tournaments.

As for Tiger Woods, he cards a 3-over par 73 today and is tied for 48th with a three-day total of 214 --good enough for 4-over par.

Goldschmidt's walk-off homer in the 9th gives D'backs 5-4 win

Arizona ripped six doubles, but it took a dramatic walk-off home run by Paul Goldschmidt in the ninth inning to give the Diamondbacks a 5-4 win over the New York Mets tonight at Chase Field.

Goldschmidt's 27th home run of the season came after Heath Bell had blown the save in the top of the  eighth inning. Arizona led 4-2 and it looked like Patrick Corbin was going to finally get his 13th win of the season, but Bell gave up two runs on three hits.

The Diamondbacks couldn't score in the bottom of the eighth and it was then up to Brad Ziegler (5-1) to get the Mets out in the top of the ninth. He came through and the D'backs headed for the dugout looking for a game-winner.

Goldy provided just that as he pounded a cutter off Mets' reliever Scott Atchison over the right field fence. It was Goldschmidt's 91st RBI of the season -- the most in the National League.

Corbin pitched six innings, allowed four hits, two earned runs, walked three and struck out four. He remains at 12-3 on the season.

Arizona collected 10 hits -- seven of those were for extra bases. Providing doubles tonight were Adam Eaton (2), Martin Prado, Cody Ross, Wil Nieves and Corbin.

Arizona improves to 59-55. The LA Dodgers (65-50) rally tonight in the ninth inning and beat Tampa Bay 7-6 to remain 5 1/2 ahead of the Diamondbacks in the NL West.

The eight-game homestand continues tomorrow night as Brandon McCarthy (2-5) gets the starting nod as the Diamondbacks have now won three in a row with back-to-back wins over Tampa Bay and their dramatic win tonight over the Mets.

Jason Dufner cards a 63 at PGA Championship

Jason Dufner fires a 63 in the second round of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill in Rochester, NY. today to card a two-day total of 131, good enough for 9-under par and a two-stroke lead over Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar and Jim Furyk as the tournament heads into the weekend.

Dufner flirted with history to become the first golfer in a major tournament event to shoot a round of 62, but came up just a little short on a birdie try on the 18th hole at Oak Hill.

Tiger Woods (71-70) struggled all day as the putts wouldn't fall and finished even-par today and a 1-over, two-day total of 141 for the tournament -- 10 strokes behind!

Dodgers increase lead in the NL West

The Arizona Diamondbacks (58-55) were idle, but the LA Dodgers played on and ended up beating the Cardinals 5-1 in St. Louis tonight.

The Dodgers add to their NL West lead and are now 5 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Diamondbacks. The Dodgers captured their seventh consecutive series and improved their record to 64-50, making the Diamondbacks' task that much harder.

Arizona will send Patrick Corbin (12-3) to the mound tomorrow night at Chase Field in the opener of a three-games series with the New York Mets (52-60).

Prado Power!

Martin Prado went 4 for 4, drove in four runs and scored twice as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-8 tonight to keep pace with the LA Dodgers in the NL West.

Prado's big blow came in the eighth inning when his two-run single to right field turned an 8-7 deficit into a 9-8 lead. The slim lead held up as Brad Ziegler pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the save. J.J. Putz (3-1) picked up the win by pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

Prado singled twice, doubled and hit a two-run home run. Adam Eaton, Eric Chavez and Aaron Hill collected two hits apiece, while Paul Goldschmidt singled in a run -- his 90th run batted in this season.

Arizona (58-55) set a club record by turning six double plays tonight -- including a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

It was Arizona's 23rd win of the year in one-run games and the victory tonight capped a two-game sweep of the visiting Rays.

The two-game sweep of the Rays allows the Diamondbacks to pick up one full game on the Dodgers (63-50) and are now five games back of LA in the NL West Division race.

Arizona begins a three-game series on Friday at Chase Field against the New York Mets.

60-and-over Aces bang out 14 hits in win over Old Pueblo Club

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over Aces

The 60-and-over Aces banged out 14 hits at Udall Park today and went on to beat the Old Pueblo Club, 11-6.

Lead-off batter Dennis Crowley went 3 for 4 and shortstop Lloyd Barzell reached base four times with three hits and a walk as the Aces had little trouble figuring out the offerings of Old Pueblo's starting pitcher, Mike Morales.

The Aces scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, added a run in the second and plated three more in the third, giving their starter, Chico Bigham,  a 7-0 cushion.

In the meantime, Bigham (above photo) threw a perfect first, second and third inning and had one out in the top of the fourth when Old Pueblo's right fielder Jose Rios stepped to the plate. Rios, not known for home run power, sent a Bigham fastball over the left field fence to ruin the no-hitter and the perfect game.

The Aces would eventually add four more runs in the sixth by stringing together five hits and a couple of walks, while Old Pueblo pushed across a couple of runs in the sixth and three more in the top of the seventh to complete the scoring.

Bigham got plenty of support from his teammates in this one as Ted Davis, Ron Petersen and Pigpen Price contributed two hits  apiece. Petersen drove in four runs, Davis two and Price had a run batted in.

Tim Tolson, Pete Peters and Jerry Hamelin also hit safely as the Aces continue to pound out the hits this summer and now own back-to-back wins during the months of July and August over the two south-side 60-and-over teams, the Arizona Rattlers and the Old Pueblo Club.

Game note: The oldest player on the field today was the Aces' 83-year-old Billy Heiny. Billy caught the entire game. The combined ages of the Aces'  battery today of Bigham, 74, and Heiny total 157 years.

D'backs now six games behind the Dodgers

When the players on the Arizona Diamondbacks pick up the Arizona Republic's sports page in the morning, they'll find themselves six games behind the LA Dodgers in the NL West.

Most of the D'backs will undoubtedly shake their heads while they sip on their morning coffee and devour a plate of bacon and eggs. Not a great way to start the day.

They will find out rather quickly that the Dodgers won Monday night 3-2 over the St. Louis Cardinals and in doing so extended their consecutive road wins to 15 games. The Dodgers have now won 32 of their last 39 games -- no wonder they have gone from a mediocre team to 13 games above the .500 mark at 62-49.

Of course, the Dodgers' BIG payroll has probably had a lot to do with their recent success. But a few months ago those high-price players weren't producing...and now they are.

As for the Diamondbacks, they aren't hitting and unless they get hot during their current homestand, which gets underway tomorrow night against the Tampa Bay Rays, well, you might as well kiss the season goodbye. At 56-55, Arizona has 51 games left in the regular season and they just may need to go 40-11 in order to catch the high-flying Dodgers.

The D'backs are under the gun and manager Kirk Gibson has little room for error as he makes his moves down the stretch. Of course, Gibson stands nervously in the dugout...his playing days are over. It is not all on the manager's shoulders...the players need to produce. Paul Goldschmidt (26 home runs, 89 RBI) has carried them most of the season, but it's time for the balance of the lineup to put up the big numbers.

Of course, Goldschmidt can't go away and hide, either. He must continue doing his thing at the plate -- he needs to knock in runs in bunches -- not just a solo shot every five days, but more like powerhouse shots to the rafters with runners on the base paths.

As for the Diamondbacks' pitching staff, well it looks like the youngsters -- Patrick Corbin and Randall Delgado need to continue to do their thing, while Brandon McCarthy, Wade Miley and newcomer Joe Thatcher need to step it up a notch. As for the relievers -- no more giveaways. Heath Bell, Will Harris, J.J. Putz and Brad Ziegler need to flat out close the door at crunch time.

All of the above is easier said than done.

And if the Dodgers continue to blow away their opponents at home and away, well that six game lead may turn into a dozen and the Diamondbacks will wave the white flag long before the Labor Day Weekend.

Go get 'em, D'backs. This Diamondbacks fan is still behind you.

The TOTS "Dirty Dozen"

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

As with any baseball club, it is those young players -- those  "cream of the crop" players, who normally receive all the accolades for collecting the most hits, runs and RBIs.

Not so with the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS), the oldest organized baseball team in the country. It's the longevity of the player, "their stick to it" mentality, their "never give up" attitude -- those are the players on the TOTS whom all the members of the club look up to.

The  60-and-over TOTS play three days a week at Udall Park, 52 weeks out of the year. The young players look up to the old veterans, while the "old guys" just tip their cap when a young 60s player makes an over-the-head catch or drills a double off the left field fence. They tip their hat and say, "There was a time. There was a time."

All of the TOTS -- some 55 strong -- are in for the long haul. Many will not just take the field while they are in their 60s, but into their 70s and well into their 80s.

As for the younger players, who are still nursing cuts and bruises...and hamstrings from time to time, they just wish they're still "kicking" -- still taking the field when they reach the ages of some of their counterparts who are, in some cases,  20 to 25 years older than them!

Yul Brynner had his  "Magnificent Seven" and Frank Sinatra was a member of "Ocean's 11" -- well, the TOTS have their own group of misfits:  "The Dirty Dozen"  -- 12 superstar old timers who show up at Udall Park,  three days a week and play America's favorite pastime.

Now, granted, there was the movie "The Dirty Dozen" which consisted of a cast of character actors -- namely Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson and football great Jim Brown -- just to name a few.

But then there's the TOTS version of the Dirty Dozen. And man will they leave an impression on you!

The TOTS  Dirty Dozen  include: 87-year old Floyd Lance, 85-year-old Jack Glickman, 83-year-old Billy Heiny, 81-year-old Jerry Smarik, 76-year-old Bob Katz, 80-year-old Archie Burke, 79-year-old Joe Aparacio, 75-year-old Bob Royer, 77-year old Carl Brutovsky, 75-year-old Art Radtke,  75-year-old Mal Zwolinski and 75-year-old Denny Leonard.

Lance is like Lee Marvin's character in the 1967 flick "The Dirty Dozen".  Floyd is an old-timer who plays hard and gets the job done. Lance led the TOTS' super seniors in July with a .391 batting average (9 for 23, 8 walks and 7 RBI). Unbelievable! The man will turn 88 in September.

Glickman, on the other hand, swings the heaviest bat available, but still pulls the ball down the third baseline and then there is "Doc" Heiny who will pitch every game if called upon. He throws nothing but "junk" and can frustrate the best of the TOTS' hitters.

Smarik is the iron man of the group. He didn't miss a game in July. In his 20-plus years with the TOTS, Jerry has had more at bats than any other player. As for Katz, he leads the club in walks every year...and this past month he walked eight times to tie for the team lead in that department.

And then there is Burke, who turns 81 next month. A quiet guy who goes about his business in the outfield day in and day out. As for Aparicio, he kinda reminds you of the character Trini Lopez played in The Dirty Dozen...a little guy who has a lot to say.

Royer, on the other hand, is another one of those old-time pitchers  on the TOTS who will take the mound every fifth day and frustrate batters with his high-arching slow ball. Royer played in all 12 games in July. He went 5 for 25 and maintained a respectable .200 batting average.

The last four of the super seniors -- Brutovsky, Radtke, Zwolinski and Leonard, are every-day outfielders for the TOTS. Brutovsky is a lefty who can scamper down the first base line and at times can out run some of the younger TOTS, Radtke, on the other hand, is a right handed hitter and can still muscle the ball to the outfield from time to time. Zwolinski, who turns 76 in October,  put the bat on the ball during the month of July and came away with four hits and five RBI, while Leonard, a lefty, had an even better month, going 7 for 26 while scoring four runs.

All 12 of the TOTS "Dirty Dozen" give it every thing they got, game after game. They are the pride and the joy of the TOTS...and they are what the organization is all about.

Go, TOTS!

Photos: Top to bottom: 1.  Lance  2.  Glickman  3.  Heiny  4.  Smarik   5.  Katz  6. Burke  7.  Aparicio  8. Royer  9.  Brutovsky  10. Radtke  11.   Zwolinski  12. Leonard

Tiger cruises to 79th tour win

Tiger Woods wins for the 8th time at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and picks up his 79th career tour win and is now just three back of  Slammin' Sammy Snead.

Woods shoots an opening round 66, follows up on Day 2 by tying the course record with a 61, fires a 68 on Day 3 and then sneaks home with an even-par 70 today to the delight of the appreciative crowd in Akron, Ohio.

Tiger's 4-day total of 15-under 265, bested Keegan Bradley and Henrik Stenson -- both finished in a tie for second at 272.

D'backs shutout in Boston

Once again the Arizona Diamondbacks offense goes south.

Arizona is shutout by the Boston pitching staff 4-0 today at Fenway and now hop a plane in the morning and head back to Phoenix with a record of 56-55.

They are now 5 1/2 back of the LA Dodgers and are on the verge of that all too familiar .500 mark.

Where has all the hits gone?

The D'backs spray just seven singles around Fenway Park today as Boston starter Felix Doubront keeps them shutdown for seven innings before giving way to the Red Sox bullpen.

Brandon McCarthy shutout the Red Sox until the fifth inning. Unfortunately for the D'backs that would be as far as McCarthy could go. He walked off the field and looked at the scoreboard. He had given up two runs on five hits. He had walked three and struck out five. But the real kicker on the scoreboard: Arizona 0, Red Sox 2.

No offensive explosion by the Diamondbacks. No support for their starter.

Arizona loses 2 of 3 to the Red Sox and now prepare for a two-game series at Chase Field with Tampa Bay, followed by the continuation of the eight-game homestand which includes the Mets and Orioles.

A productive home stand is a must. The Dodgers win again today, 1-0, over the Chicago Cubs and are now 12 games over the .500 mark at 61-49.

Boston beats Corbin and the D'backs

The Arizona Diamondbacks lose 5-2 in Boston tonight and fall 4 1/2 games back of the LA Dodgers in the National League Western Division.

Patrick Corbin took the loss and falls to 12-3 on the season as the Diamondbacks fail once again offensively in support of their young All-Star hurler. Aside from a solo homer by Paul Goldschmidt and an RBI-single by Aaron Hill, the Diamondbacks record just four more hits in the game -- a single by Gerardo Parra, another single by Hill and two hits from Wil  Nieves as the newly-acquired Jake Peavy goes seven innings for Boston, allowing four hits and just two earned runs.

Arizona (56 -54) will complete the three-game series with Boston tomorrow as Brandon McCarthy (2-4) returns to the mound for the Diamondbacks. Felix Doubront (7-5) will get the starting nod for the Red Sox.

D'backs hang on to beat Boston in opener at Fenway

It was old home week for Cody Ross.

Ross goes 4 for 5 and hits the go-ahead solo homer in the seventh inning to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks (56-53) to a 7-6 win over the Red Sox in Boston tonight.

The former Red Sox outfielder knocks in three runs as the Diamondbacks collect 16 hits off the Red Sox pitching staff. Paul Goldschmidt also homers -- a 2-run shot in the first inning. Goldy now has 25 home runs and 88 RBI.

Barzell, Steele top the TOTS' hit chart in July

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

Lloyd Barzell and Mike Steele had their hitting shoes on for the month of July, according to the latest Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)  batting statistics released today.

Barzell, 62, led the 60-and-over baseball club with 20 hits in 35 trips to the plate for a healthy .571 batting average, while Steele, 65, finished second with 15 hits in 30 official plate appearances and a .500 batting average for the month. It was a swan song, so to speak, for Steele, who returns to his teaching job next week. His summer play is over.

Steele had a great three months. He played in 24 games over the summer and collected 39 hits in 68 at bats, which calculates out to an impressive .573 average. He also scored 24 runs and knocked in 21 runs.

Other top hitters for July include: Bob Daliege (9 games, 13 for 25 for a .520 average); Doc Thompson (7 games, 10 for 19 for a .526 average); Jesse Ochoa (9 games, 10 for 19 for a .526 average) and Pete Peters (9 games, 13 for 25 for a .520 average).

There were three players who batted over .600 for the month of July, but all three played in seven games or less. Jeff Helzel played in just four games and went 7 for 11 (.636), Tim Tolson played in seven games and went 13 for 20 (.650) and Ron Petersen played in five games and went 8 for 12 (.667).

The top RBI leaders included Chico Bigham with 12, while three players -- Barzell, Tolson and Pigpen Price tied for second on the club with 10.

Barzell and Tolson led the club in homers with one apiece. Barzell led in doubles with four, while Tolson led the club in triples with two.

Daliege and Thompson led the club in pitching victories with two apiece.

Photos: Barzell (top), Steele (bottom).

Darvish too much for D'backs

Most of the starting lineup for the Texas Rangers had the night off this evening in Arlington.

Yu Darvish was just too much for Arizona as he fanned 14 batters in seven innings, while his teammates twiddled their thumbs and looked on, en route to a 7-1 win.

The position players for Texas did make a play or two -- after all the D'backs did manage five hits off Darvish and three more off the Rangers two relievers, and Arizona did manage a lone run in the ninth inning.

By then Darvish (10-5) was already heading for the showers -- contemplating his next outing and thinking to himself just what he needs to do to get that 15th strikeout. Fanning 14 batters in a game seems to be his norm.

Obtaining 14 of 21 outs in seven innings is hard enough to do at any level -- Little League, Pony League, college or professional, but if there's anybody up to the task, it certainly would be Darvish.

Wow, what a machine!

His 14 K's tonight gives him 186 for the year -- tops in the Majors.

Arizona falls to 55-53 and heads for Boston. At least Darvish won't follow them.