Randal Grichuk, Corbin Carroll lead D-backs in win

PHOENIX — From the presence of shortstop Geraldo Perdomo in the clubhouse after missing most of the season with a knee injury, to Randal Grichuk and Corbin Carroll nearly hitting for cycles and Jordan Montgomery turning in a good start after struggling mightily in his previous two, the good vibes were flowing at Chase Field on Tuesday night.

That the D-backs defeated the Angels, 9-4, in the opener of a three-game set was a fitting way for it all to end. Here’s a breakdown:

Two near cycles
Neither Grichuk nor Carroll have hit for a cycle in a big league game, but both certainly came close Tuesday.

Grichuk was likely closer than Carroll after tripling in the second, homering in the third and doubling in the fifth. That left him with two more plate appearances in which all he needed was a single.

Instead he walked in the sixth and flied out to deep left field in the seventh.

Afterward, Grichuk was asked if he was thinking about the cycle when he came to the plate in his final two trips.

“I mean, yes, it’d be cool to do it but I’d much rather hit a homer there in the last at-bat or hit a double and have a couple of RBIs,” Grichuk said. “It’d be cool, but I’ll take the slug.”

Carroll tripled in the second, doubled in the fourth, walked in the fifth and singled in the seventh, leaving him a homer shy before he flied out in his final at-bat in the eighth.

“They both had at-bats to hit for a cycle,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen two guys in one game have the ability to do that.”

Perdomo returns
Lovullo calls Perdomo the team’s “emotional leader” and his absence since suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee on April 4 has left a void in the Arizona clubhouse.

But there he was Tuesday, following a rehab stint with Triple-A Reno, flashing his signature smile and bringing his trademark energy.

“Having Domo back was really good,” Montgomery said. “Just good to be out there and be with him. He’s just such a great guy, just cheering for me. I don’t know how to explain it. He talks to me in between every inning like just keep going and I don’t know, it’s nice.”

Perdomo picked up a pair of hits, drew a walk and also drove in a run.

“They were all happy,” Perdomo said of his teammate’s reaction to his return. “They know the player I am, the person I am, that I’m always supportive every day, I think the most important thing is they were very excited to see me. They know how much energy I bring to the team and they know how important that can be for us. When we have energy, we play great.”

Monty makes strides
It’s been a tough start to the season for Montgomery, who missed the first few weeks after he did not sign with Arizona until the day following the season opener.

Montgomery, who had allowed 14 runs (12 earned) in six innings over his previous two starts, allowed three runs over 5 2/3 innings Tuesday.

“Definitely felt better,” Montgomery said. “I’m happy to pitch into the sixth and give us a chance to win, I felt like I was moving slower, which is usually good for me, the shapes [of my pitches] were right. I mean, really, other than that hung changeup to [Taylor] Ward in the sixth, it was pretty solid. So just going to keep working hard to try and get better.”