The first tie of the year for the D-backs came this afternoon at Scottsdale
Record: 4-4-1. Five-inning record: 5-4
Caleb Smith and Alex Young were extremely solid in their outings this afternoon in Scottsdale. Each worked three shutout innings and struck out three. Smith did not allow any hits, walking one, in a good performance which was very much needed. His first game had seen him tagged for six runs in two innings, so this was like night and day for Caleb. On the other hand, Young had tossed a pair of scoreless frames previously, and is now at five with a zero ERA on the spring. He gave up a pair of singles and a walk, combining with Smith to take a shutout into the seventh.
Yoan Lopez lost that, as his first batter, Evan Longoria, rudely greeted Lopez by homering off him. A single, stolen-base and RBI single brought in a second run, and caused a mound visit. I don’t know what was said, but I’d like it bottled and a case delivered to the clubhouse, as Lopez then struck out the next three batters. Miguel Aguilar and Sam Moll then each put up a zero with a one-hit inning. Moll in particular had to do some fancy pitching, after a single, error and passed ball put men on second and third with no outs. However, he escaped the jam with a trio of groundballs – the second saw what would have been a walk-off run thrown out at home – and the game ended in a tie.
Arizona did all their scoring in the fifth inning, off former D-back James Sherfy (we also saw Anthony Banda and Silvino Bracho pitch for the Giants). With one out, prospects Daulton Varsho tripled and Pavin Smith walked. A wild pitch advanced Smith, and Wyatt Mathisen brought both home with a double to left; one out later, the inning was mercy-ruled. Mathisen’s hit was their only one with men in scoring position. They were 1-for-5 there, and the Diamondbacks were held to five hits overall, though walked five times as well. David Peralta had a double and a walk, but Trayce Thompson was 0-for-4 with two K’s. His spring average is down to .182,. and he’s 0-for-10 with five K’s since his three-hit game in Tempe.
Tomorrow, the D-backs play their housemates, the Rockies, with Arizona nominally the “home” team at Salt River Fields: Luke Weaver is the scheduled starter. Corbin Martin is also scheduled to pitch, and the game is on FSAZ, as well as webcast at dbacks.com, so be good to get a look at one of our top pitching prospects.
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