Led by Brandon Pfaadt’s strong seven-inning outing, the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 in a quick game that was the team’s shortest since August 5th, 2008, finishing in just 1 hour and 59 minutes.
The game on August 5th, 2008, featured Brandon Webb delivering a complete-game masterpiece, allowing just one run in a 3-1 Diamondbacks victory over the Pirates. This win marked Webb’s 16th of the season, propelling him toward a league-leading total of 22 victories by year’s end.
In the context of the 2024 season, the average game duration across the league has decreased by 18% compared to 2021, with games now averaging around 2 hours and 36 minutes. If this trend continues, it will represent the shortest average game time since 1985.
Allowing the D-backs to pick up a win in sub-two hours is the fact that neither team exceeded 120 pitches, and both starting pitchers lasted seven innings, combining for a mere six hits. Additionally, there were few bullpen changes, with only three relievers used between both teams.
The game’s pace was brisk from the start. Until the bottom of the 4th inning, only one player reached base, with the lone hit being a solo home run by Christian Walker in the 2nd inning. During eight different half-innings, the batting team was restricted to just three batters.
After a slow start to the season, the Diamondbacks have found their stride, winning seven of their last ten games. They are set to conclude a six-game homestand with an upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers starting on Friday.
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