Record: 57-57. Pace: 81-81. Change on 2018: -6.

The trade deadline has come and gone and we find our D-backs lacking a Greinke, but gaining a Leake. That of course means we’ll hear about Leake being an ASU grad at least 100 times tonight. So please be sure not to make that in to a drinking game; probably not a good idea.

Beer 1: Full Nelson Dbl IPA by La Cumbre Brewing Co.

The Leake era begins, and I disagree with some who might say he “replaces” Greinke. He doesn’t. At all. He’s certainly the elder statesmen and has the best overall career of the remaining staff, but I hope most D-backs fans realize that he’ll likely be solid at best. Honestly, that’ll be just fine in my book.

Leake’s tenure as a D-backs begins with a bad sort of bang thanks to a leadoff HR. Ouch.

The rest of the 1st ends without any more damage, but my hope of recapping a winning match is already wavering. 0-1 Phillies

Nothing doing in our half of the 1st, which hi-lights sons continued frustration with our “high run differential” squad; slug fests one series and famine the next. Still better than last season’s offense, but not where it needs to be to truly complete.

Leake’s 2nd is MUCH better, and fears of a total meltdown have been averted, for the time being.

Walker, Lamb and Ahmed go down 1-2-3 to Arrieta, who looks like he’s really dialed in. 0-1 Phillies going in to 3rd.

Leake has another solid inning in the 3rd followed by Avila drawing a rare leadoff walk (feels that way to me at least), but a double play quickly quashes that hope and we’re still down 0-1 going in to the 4th.

Beer 2: Juicier Than Thou by Heretic Brewing Company

Ahmed commits a rare error to lead off the top of the 4th, turning a Segura single in to a double after a bad throw to Walker. Segura eventually gets driven home and Leake’s already allowed 8hits. Oh joy. 0-2 Phillies. Gonna be one of those nights isn’t it?

The beer must be taking hold, for Escobar just gave me hope. With a swing of Escobar’s bat (preceded by Marte’s single) we find ourselves tied in the 4th. God signing him has been godsend. 2-2 going in to the 5th.

Wow. Walker just made the absolutely worst throw to Leake covering 1st. I’m pretty sure that if my throwing arm was broken that I could have made that play and saved a run in the process. Wow. 2-3 Phillies.

Frustration continues in our half of the 5th as Marte and Escobar can’t drive in a run, stranding Leake and Dyson at 3rd and 2nd respectively. Uggghhhhhh. Still 3-2.

Beer 3: Saturdays Are For The Brews IPA by Lead Dog Brewing Co.

Leake’s night ends after 1 out in the 6th. Not great. Not Awful. Just “meh”.

Walker with another error as Chafin comes in. 3rd error of tonight for our D-backs.

Chafin cares not for your errors. As he strikes out the next two, with the last being against Perfect-Hair-Foreve Harper. That felt real good seeing that overpaid “star” strike out. My hopes are buoyed despite being down still 2-3.

Suarez is just the breath of fresh air this offense needed after Arrieta leaves the game. Juicing the bases for Avila with only 1out.

You’re reading this after the fact so you know what happened next: Avila drives in two runs on a single to right and we’re in the lead. 4-3 good guys going in to 7th.

Lopez keeps the score as is in the top of the frame and Dyson leads off the other half on base and on second thanks to a Phillies error. I’m liking this story as I reach for my 4th beer.

Beer 4: Sun Fade Hazy IPA by La Cumbre

Escobar drives in taco time with 1 out in the 7th and I’m really starting to get behind the Leake era. That feeling of goodness heads in to overdrive immediately after with Peralta BOMB to left field. Hell yea. 7-3 D-backs

Robby Scott, who apparently exists in our pitching staff, wastes no time in upsetting D-backs Nation with two doubles to start the 8th. Not nice Scott, not nice at all.

Scott recovers nicely though and hands off the torch to Yoshi to finish off the 8th, which is no problem at all. 7-4 D-backs entering the end game.

Avila wants an end game. He grows weary of these Phillies. His dead center field homer speaks those sentiments in volumes. 8-4 D-backs.

Bradley’s in to close things out because we all know Holland can’t be trusted in any way now. That’s kind of funny considering how little most of us trust Bradley this year.

Win!!!!!! Bradley wins! What a weird game!!!!!

Bells and whistles, by Jim

Click here for details, at Fangraphs.com

Death by chocolate: Alex Avila, +27.0%

Ripe old age: Eduardo Escobar, +17.9%

Giant wasps nibbling on your intestines: Mike Leake, -15.7%

Thanks to those present in the Gameday Thread, who were: BenSharp, DORRITO, GuruB, Hannibal4467, Imstillhungry95, James Patrick Kim, Makakilo, MesaDBacksFan, MrMrrbi, NikT77, Rockkstarr12, Schilling2001, SenSurround, Smurf1000, Snake_Bitten, Theolser4, William Kubas, Xerostomia, bball3035, chronicles_of_the_desert, edbigghead and kilnborn. Comment of the thread (if not related to the game) goes to SenSurround:

The win puts Arizona 2.5 back of the Phillies for the second wild-card. Somehow we are a game back of... the Mets? When did that happen? I’m pretty sure their resurrection will prove to be as much a mirage as the Giants, who are back to normal and have lost five of their last six. A win tomorrow could pull the D-backs to within 1.5 of a spot, if the Cardinals also lose in Los Angeles. That game will see Zac Gallen also make his Arizona debut, and it’s another 6:40 pm first pitch.