So, I guess there’s that…
Record: 7-11-5. Five-inning record: 10-10-3.
No joy for the Diamondbacks at the plate this evening, as another absence of clutch say them blanked on seven hits by the Mariners. Arizona were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, wasting a decent performance by the pitching staff. Merrill Kelly allowed a run on two hits in the first, then settled down, working 4.2 innings of one-run ball, on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. He even, technically, is on record as a pinch-hitter in this game, returning to the mound to record the first out in the sixth, after Sam Moll got the last one the previous inning. Overall, he seemed pretty satisfied with how he threw the ball tonight:
“I think that was the best, as far as all 4 pitches go. I think that was probably the best I’ve executed them – that was the best I’ve felt coming out of my hand. I liked the action on all of them, I threw some really good changeups, I got some swings and misses, got some weak contact on the changeup. I was happy to see that. The cutter has been kind of a struggle. It’s the last pitch to come around, and I was happy with the action, and the missed barrels that I got on it tonight”
Merrill Kelly audio [or link]
After him, six different relievers saw action, though Chris Devenski was the only pitcher to work a scoreless frame. Keury Mella allowed an unearned run, and Joakim Soria didn’t escape the seventh, giving up a run on two hits. Very little of note on the offensive side, though Christian Walker did get two of Arizona’s seven hits. They even had a chance to keep the streak of ties going in the ninth, Josh Rojas coming to the plate with two men on, so represented the tying run. However, he flew out to end the contest. Here’s what the manager had to say afterwards:
Torey Lovullo audio [or link]
Tomorrow sees another night game, with Caleb Smith starting for the Diamondbacks. The opponents will be the Indians, and it’s a televised game.
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