Forever Young

The "Tat Man" came up huge with the teams
second grand slam in as many nights.

A night after salvaging their season and denying the Milwaukee Brewers a NLDS sweep, the Arizona Diamondbacks have made baseball fans everywhere believers in their 10-6 Game 4 victory Wednesday, forcing a decisive Game 5 Friday night in Miller Park.

It was the gutsy managing of the gritty first-year skipper Kirk Gibson and big lumber of his offense that have kept Arizona's season alive.

Milwaukee got out of the gate quickly with a first inning run off starter Joe Saunders, but the lefty was able to induce an inning-ending double play off the bat of the slugging Rickie Weeks to limit the damage. Carrying the momentum into the bottom of the inning, Arizona promptly loaded the bases against veteran south paw Randy Wolf with only one out.

Rookie Paul Goldschmidt, who became only the third rookie in postseason history to hit a grand slam Wednesday, struck out on four pitches, sucking the air out of the Phoenix crowd. But it was the big thump from one of the littlest guys on the field that sent out the biggest roar of the night.

Ryan Roberts or the "Tat Man" as they call him hit a no-doubt grand slam into the Diamondbacks' bullpen, picking up his rookie teammate by turning a one run deficit into a three run advantage.

Arizona is now only the second team in postseason history to hit grand slams in back-to-back games, joining the 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers, who did it that year in the NLCS against the Fightin' Philadelphia Phillies.

The D-backs were among the majors best with three ducks on the pond in 2011. They led the league with a .387 average and ranked third in grand slams with six behind only the New York Yankees (10) and the Florida Marlins (7).

Center fielder Chris Young followed with a home run of his own, capping a five-run first inning.

While Roberts and Young are responsible for hitting the home runs, it was the decision making of their manager that put them in that position. Prior to the game Gibson made a change to his starting lineup, flip-flopping Roberts and Young, thinking it might ignite a spark and boy did it ever.

But it might have been Gibson's ingenious move in the bottom of third that may have changed their fate this postseason.

With the Brewers slowly chipping away, getting a run in each of the first three innings off Saunders, Gibson elected to pinch-hit for his starter with two on and two out. With only 92 career major league at-bats, rookie Collin Cowgill was called upon in possibly the games biggest moment.

Cowgill delivered a two-run single to left that drew even a grin from his usual stoic manager.

Second baseman Aaron Hill added a home run in the sixth while Young hit his second home run of the game, this time a two-run shot in the seventh, having Arizona total four home runs in the game. Young is the first player in D-backs history to have a multi-home run game in the postseason.

Young claps his hands after hitting becoming
the first D-back in history to hit two home
runs in a postseason game.

Brewer center fielder Carlos Gomez hit a two-run shot in the eighth pulling Milwaukee into within four, but it was too little too late as Gibson used five different relievers over the games final seven innings to get through Game 4 and knot the series at two games apiece.

While Arizona flexed their power at home, Milwaukee continues their swoon on the road. Arizona will look to become one of the rare teams to overcome an 0-2 series deficit in a best-of-five series. Game 5 will once again be a battle of the aces.

Milwaukee is now 1-4 all- time in potential series-clinching games, but are headed home where they had the majors best record during the regular year at 57-24 with one last shot to close out these pesky snakes.

For the Diamondbacks' Ian Kennedy it's a chance at redemption while it's a chance of a lifetime for Yovani Gallardo.

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.