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TEAM RECAPS:
Diamondbacks: Arizona was 3-3 this week. The Diamondbacks started off the week with a loss to the Rangers. Arizona then traveled to Boston where they lost two of three. The Diamondbacks ended their week with two straight wins over the Rays at home.
This was a tough week schedule-wise for Arizona as they faced three potential playoff teams that have a better record than it does right now. In the Diamondback's three wins this week, their bats were on fire scoring 7, 6, and 9 runs respectively. On the flip side, in the three losses, Arizona scored 1, 2, and 0 runs respectively.
Rockies: Colorado was 1-5 this week. The Rockies lost their first game this week by a score of 11-2 against the Braves. Colorado then traveled to Pittsburgh where they dropped two of three before going to New York and losing two straight to the Mets.
The Rockies' offense was horrendous this week, averaging just 1.8 runs per game. Their pitching staff was equally as bad, surrendering on average 5.2 runs per game. At times this season, Colorado had the ability to average around 5 runs a game with ease. But these recent struggles combined with Carlos Gonzalez's trip to the DL because of a sprained finger could mean the Rockies' offense probably won't hit well again anytime soon.
Giants: San Francisco was 3-4 this week. The Giants won their first and second games this week against the Phillies and Rays respectively. After that, San Fran dropped two straight to Tampa Bay and two of three against Milwaukee.
Once again, the Giants' offense continued to struggle as they scored on average just 2.3 runs per game. San Francisco scored just one run three times, two runs once, three runs once, and four runs twice. At the same time, the pitching was very good, surrendering just 2.7 runs per game. But because the offense struggled again, the Giants were 3-4 this week.
Padres: San Diego was 2-3 this week. The Padres took two of three from the Yankees at home over the weekend before losing both games of a two game series against the Orioles.
Like most weeks, San Diego's offense was hit or miss. The Padres scored seven runs in their first game against the Yankees, zero in the second, and six in the third. When Baltimore came into town, San Diego scored one run in the first game and three in the second.
Dodgers: Los Angeles was 6-1 this week. The Dodgers swept a four game series against the Cubs in Chicago before traveling to St. Louis to take two of three against the Cardinals.
After winning five straight against the Cubs and Cardinals to start off the week, the Dodgers extended their franchise road winning streak to 15 games. But that streak came to an end on Tuesday when the Boys in Blue fell to the Cardinals. While going 6-1 in one week is great, the Dodgers did lose a key hitter for a couple games this past week, and possibly a couple more next week. Hanley Ramirez injured his shoulder on Sunday August 4th when he dove into the stands at Wrigley while trying to catch a foul ball. Ramirez is listed as day-to-day by the team.
WHAT'S IN STORE FOR THESE TEAMS NEXT WEEK:
Diamondbacks: Three games against the Mets, three games against the Orioles
Rockies: One game against Mets, three games against the Pirates, three games against the Padres
Giants: One game against the Brewers, three games against the Orioles, two games against the Nationals
Padres: Three games against the Reds, three games against the Rockies
Dodgers: One game against the Cardinals, three games against the Rays, three games against the Mets
OVERALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Diamondbacks infielder Martin Prado. The infielder finished the week with a division high .478 batting average. Prado also hit one homer and knocked in seven runs. One of the more impressive statistics about Prado's week was that he walked three times and struck out just once. Prado also scored four runs and doubled four times.
BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE:
Dodgers' starting pitcher Zack Greinke. On Monday August 5th, the Dodgers beat Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals 3-2. Greinke pitched six and a third innings and gave up just two runs on eight hits while striking out four to earn his 100th career win. But the righty's biggest contribution to the win came with his bat. With two outs in the top of the seventh and Nick Punto on second, Greinke knocked in Punto to give Los Angeles a 3-1 lead. The RBI single proved to be the game winning hit and raised Greinke's 2013 batting average to .405.
OVERALL TEAM OF THE WEEK:
The Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers were a division best 6-1 his week. The Boys in Blue averaged 4.7 runs this past week thanks in part to a big 13-4 win over the Cardinals on Wednesday August 7th. The pitching staff also pitched well, surrendering just 2.4 runs per game.
WORST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:
Colorado pitcher Chad Bettis. There weren't too many bad performances this week, but Bettis' would be up there regardless. In his major league debut last Thursday (August 1st) against the Braves, Bettis gave up five earned runs on six hits over five innings. The young righty walked five (plus one intentional walk) and struck out just one.