Snake bites

• The D-backs this year have employed defensive shifts more often than in the past after seeing other teams do so the last couple of seasons.

"Last year, we talked quite a bit about it," Gibson said. "Why do people shift? What do they see that we don't see? We're looking at the same spray charts? We're trying to study it more and more and try to understand. We get all these charts. Even these umpires charts. What do they mean? What do the spray charts mean? I think we've been much better at defensive alignments. Our infield shifts, our outfield alignment has been moving around a lot more."

• The D-backs promoted their top two picks from this year's First-Year Player Draft, right-handers Braden Shipley and Aaron Blair, from Class A Hillsboro to Class A South Bend.

• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the D-backs are the first team in nine years to sweep a series of three or more games against a team with a winning record (at the end of the series) despite trailing in the seventh inning or later in each game.

• The D-backs lead the Majors with 26 wins in their last at-bat. The next-closest teams are the Royals and Red Sox with 19 apiece.

• The D-backs are second in the National League in comeback wins (35). The Braves lead with 38.