As Good As Gold

Goldschmidt watches his second career
postseason home run leave the yard.

One of the three teams to face elimination Tuesday, the Arizona Diamondbacks live to fight another day with 8-1 pounding of the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers, giving Phoenix at least one more home game in 2011.

Arizona showed the resiliency and toughness that resembles much their manager's career, like they have all season long.

First-year skipper Kirk Gibson, who has been questioned with his managerial decisions this NLDS, counted on two rookies to keep his season alive.

Right-hander Josh Collmenter was brilliant in his first career postseason start, tossing seven two-hit innings and striking out six Brewers, including sluggers Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder one time apiece. The only blemish on his line was a solo home run given up in the third inning by the six-foot-six Cory Hart.

Collmenter has been a tormentor for the Brewers all season long. The righty faced Milwaukee twice during the regular season, both starts coming in the month of July. After receiving a no decision July 9 in Miller Park, he won his very next start at Chase Field July 18. In those regular season starts, Collmenter threw 14 shutout innings and allowed only six hits in those innings with 10 punch-outs.

On the offensive side All-Star catcher Miguel Montero got off the snide with his first RBI of the series with a two-out double, but it was the bat of rookie first base man Paul Goldschmidt that was the difference.

After back-to-back singles to open the bottom of the fifth, Marcum struck Aaron Hill out looking and quickly deposed of Justin Upton on a nubber back to the mound, advancing both runners into scoring position. Manager Ron Roenicke elected to intentionally walk Montero, who had two hits in his first two at-bats against the former Toronto Blue Jays starter, passing the baton to Goldschmidt.

Goldschmidt launched a 1-2 offerings from the Brewers' starter over the right field wall for a grand slam, chasing him from the game. Marcum knew the ball was headed for trouble as soon as the rookie made contact, tossing his glove up in the air in disgust.

That brings the memory of when then-Cubs lefty Ted Lilly threw his glove on the same mound in the same ballpark after surrendering a three-run home run to Chris Young in Game 2 of the 2007 NLDS.

With Goldschmidt's grand slam, he becomes only the third rookie in postseason history to hit a grand slam. Ricky Ledee was the last rookie to do so in the 1999 ALCS as a member of the New York Yankees. The 24-year-old also homered in Game 2 at Miller Park, joining another Yankee, Shane Spencer, as the only other rookie to hit a home run in each his first two playoff games.

Goldschmidt didn't play in Game 1 against Milwaukee. Instead, Gibson went with the veteran Lyle Overbay against ace Yovani Gallardo.

Marcum's reaction was similar to that of Ted
Lilly's, above back in the '07 NLDS.

As for his teammate Willie Bloomquist, who had been one of the longest tenured active players not to make a postseason appearance, he is relishing in the October spotlight. Bloomquist is batting .417 in the team's three postseason games thus far with already three stolen bases.

Arizona continued to build on their regular season success at home with their first win of the postseason coming at Chase Field while the Brewers are reeling on the road.

Milwaukee was 39-42 on the road this season, the only team in the postseason with an a record below .500 on the road or at home.

The Brewers look to avoid a decisive fifth game and close the series out Wednesday in Arizona 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time. It's a match up of two crafty left-handers with postseason experience and almost identical numbers.

Randy Wolf takes the mound for the Brew Crew while Joe Saunders gets the ball for the snakes.