Fear is a word that’s used all the time in sporting events today. In football, it might be fear of that big hit. In basketball, it might be fear of guarding that quicker guy on the opposite team. In baseball, it might be facing that big hitter in a must win situation. But for Josh Collmenter and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, fear was not in their vocabulary.

The Diamondbacks entered Tuesday night’s game down two games to none to the Milwaukee Brewers in a best of five series. Tuesday’s storyline after the Diamondbacks dominated the Brewers 8-1 had to be how two players, Paul Goldschmidt and Josh Collmenter, saved the Diamondbacks season.
The two players took it upon themselves to put the team on their backs and carry them to at least one more game in the postseason. The incredible thing about it is that these two were not even on the opening day’s roster.

If there is one thing that D-backs manager Kirk Gibson has done right (and there are many things he’s done right), it has to be the faith that he has put in his players. He has faith in every one of his players, and feels confident that any of them can get the job done. And boy did they ever get the job done.

Paul Goldschmidt finished last night’s game with five RBIs, including his second home run in the series, which just happened to be a grand slam. Goldschmidt has accounted for 6 of the 13 RBIs in this series for the Diamondbacks, and was started because of a hunch that manager Kirk Gibson had. I would say it has definitely paid off just like most of his hunches have all season long.

On the defensive side of the ball, starting pitcher Josh Collmenter went seven innings and only gave up two hits, allowing one run. In addition, he struck out six batters, including big-time hitters Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. The two hitters both went 0-2 against Collmenter, and combined for 1-6 in the game. I would say whatever Collmenter’s strategy were against these two power hitters needs to be repeated tonight.

The Brewers are now leading the Diamondbacks in the series 2-1, but if you have been paying attention at all to the Diamondbacks this year, then you know that record doesn’t mean squat. If there is one thing that Kirk Gibson has taught these young players, it’s that this team always has a fighting chance.