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.