There was a time this season when the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers were in a tight race for first place in the National League West division. During that stretch the Dodgers were behind the Diamondbacks and Rockies for a prolonged period.
Los Angeles eventually made up ground and created separation from Colorado by sweeping a three-game series at Dodger Stadium in late June. Arizona suffered the same fate in early July, though each of those contests were one-run games.
The Dodgers and Diamondbacks played another competitive series last week at Chase Field, with the games decided by three, one and two runs. Beyond the Diamondbacks dropping two games, relief pitcher Andrew Chafin also lost a tooth.
After allowing a ninth-inning double to Kiké Hernandez in the middle game of the series, Chafin bit down too hard on his gum and busted a chomper, he explained to Scott Bordow of AZ Central:
“Well, I just gave up a double so I was a little bitter so I probably chomped my gum a little harder than normal,” Chafin said. “It was a tooth I had a root canal on and fillings and then we put a crown on top of it so once you grind it all the way down and put a crown on it there ain’t much there. It’s like a little stir stick straw thing holding my tooth together.”
Chafin walked Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig to load the bases, but retired pinch-hitter Kyle Farmer to avoid Hernandez’s double or the free passes amounting to anything for the Dodgers. That was the lone appear the left-handed reliever made during the three-game set.
While the Diamondbacks and Rockies were once neck and neck with the Dodgers, the NL West has turned into a laugher. Los Angeles entered Monday with an 18-game lead in the division, which is their largest in franchise history.
Intrigue still lies ahead, however, as the the Rockies and Diamondbacks are currently tied for the NL Wild Card. The winner of that game would face the Dodgers in the NL Division Series, which begins Friday, Oct. 6. Yasiel Puig recently said his preference is to face the Rockies in the best-of-5 series.
