Arizona Diamondbacks 7, San Francisco Giants 13: History, I Guess?

The Arizona Diamondbacks have now tied the 1963 New York Mets and 1943 Philadelphia A’s for the most consecutive road losses at 22. Can they not?

Hey. Hi. Hello. How are ya? Thanks for dropping in. I know that this is a “historical” recap, but I just can’t quite find the words to make it memorable. So for those of you from the future looking back at this, have some sympathy. Road loss #22 in a row and #13 overall for the Arizona Diamondbacks was a very long journey. The first inning alone took 45 minutes to complete requiring 76 pitches between the two starting pitchers.

Anthony DeScalfani, who lost his starting rotation spot with the Cincinnati Reds during the 2020 season, made his 13th start of the season for the San Francisco Giants. He is much improved this season, coming in with an ERA of 3.09, but Arizona would get to him early. Josh Rojas hit a bouncing double down the left field line to begin the game. He was driven in when Ketel Marte hit a line drive right at the left fielder LaMonte Wade Jr. The liner clanked off his glove allowing Marte to reach second base on the error. Eduardo Escobar doubled him home to give Arizona the early 2-0 lead. If you paid attention to the previous night’s contest you just knew this lead was not going to last. And it didn’t.

Merrill Kelly, who has been predictably reliable to give at least six competitive innings on the mound this season, struggled mightily in the bottom of the first. He needed 47 pitches to get out of the frame which was the second most thrown by an MLB pitcher in an inning this season. LaMonte Wade Jr. singled and stole second to get it started for the Giants. A quick walk to Mike Yastrzemski setup the alley oop (can you tell the Phoenix Suns are on my mind?) for Buster Posey to crush a three run shot to left field, erasing the Arizona lead as quickly as it happened. Kelly walked Brandon Crawford with one out. He advanced on a wild pitch and then was doubled home by Jason Vosler. Even though Arizona continues to find different ways to lose, it all just feels too familiar. The first inning ended with San Francisco leading 4-to-2.

Kelly calmed down after the rough first inning, allowing only a triple to Brandon Belt in the third, but would be lifted after completing that inning. His final line was three innings pitched, four strikeouts, three walks, and four earned runs on four hits. Keury Mella was the first relief pitcher for the Diamondbacks beginning in the fourth inning. He would also be the first of a pair to be lit up like a Christmas tree. Steven Duggar and Wade Jr. each hit solo home runs off of him. Mella loaded the bases with a Posey single that was sandwiched between walks to Yastrzemski and Belt. Donovan Solano singled with two outs to score a pair finally bringing and end to Mella’s outing. He couldn’t even finish an inning and gave up four runs. Ryan Buchter closed the door on the fourth inning by getting Vosler to fly out to center field. The score now 8-to-2 in favor of the Giants.

Arizona failed to score with two men on and only one out in the fifth which allowed San Francisco to pick up right where they left off. They sent nine to the plate in the fourth and would do so again in the fifth. Duggar walked and was homered in by pinch hitter old friend Wilmer Flores. Asdrubal Cabrera tried to flip a Buster Posey grounder with one out to second base in attempt to turn a double play, but instead threw the ball into right field which put runners on third and second. Brandon Belt then belted a three run home run to right field making the score an unmanageable 13-to-2.

This recap will conclude in the sixth inning which is right where I began writing it. With DeScalfani now out of the game, Arizona began scoring again off of Conner Menez. Asdrubal Cabrera hit a lead off home run against him, and David Peralta singled to follow. Pinch hitter Ildermaro Vargas nearly grounded into a double play, but was ruled safe at first after replay review. Stephen Vogt singled him to second base, but after Tim Locastro struck out for the second out of the inning it appeared Arizona was going to come away with only the Cabrera homer. However, Josh Rojas reached on a throwing error by Menez which loaded the bases for Ketel Marte. He doubled home Vargas and Vogt and was subsequently singled home himself by Pavin Smith to follow.

At that point the score was 13-to7, but just like when Arizona had the early 2 run lead in the first I had absolutely zero faith in their chances of winning. A month and a half’s worth of nonstop losing will do that to a fan. This is not a fun feeling coming into every game expecting a loss. Something has to give.

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Commenter list: AzDbackfanInDc, AzRattler, Bream was out, DBacksEurope, Diamondhacks, EdTheRed99, GuruB, Jack Sommers, James Attwood, Jim McLennan, Justin27, Keegan Thompson, Makakilo, MrMrrbi, NikT77, Oldenschoole, Preston Salisbury, Rockkstarr12, Snacks&Dbacks, Snake_Bitten, TheGoldenSombrero, Tom Babbage, Xerostomia, edbigghead, since_98, vonJunk

Well well well. Would you look at that? The most rec’d comment is also my pick for CoTD. We needed some good news in this shit storm. In celebration of the “Lemonade Guy” coming back home from the hospital, I’m going to drown out this game with a few vodka lemonades.