Meh.
Well, looks like there was some confusion over tonight’s recap. It was going to be Wes, and then it wasn’t, but word of the latter only made it to me, and I didn’t confirm anything else. So it’s on me. Not that there was much joy to be had, and I suspect enthusiasm for reading about the game will not be high. As vaguely predicted in last night’s recap, the D-backs again could only manage a split of a four-game series against a division rival, ahead of them in wild-card race. They continue to sit just below .500, and haven’t won consecutive games since July 1. Not exactly giving Mike Hazen reasons to buy.
The problems here included another mediocre start from Eduardo Rodriguez. It wasn’t anywhere near as bad as his previous outing. But eight hits and two walks before being lifted without recording an out in the fifth? Not good. He ended up being charged with four runs, all earned and his ERA again went in the wrong direction. It’s now sitting perilously close to six, at 5.94. In his defense, one of those runners scored after Rodriguez left, as Juan Morillo wobbled through the fifth, despite being at the park on time tonight. Jake Woodford then somehow tossed three scoreless innings, leaving six Padres on base. It wasn’t pretty, but it did keep the game close.
Unfortunately, the offense were not able to do much. Arizona had taken an early lead, scoring twice in the third on sacrifice flies by Jose Herrera and Corbin Carroll. They then loaded the bases, but Eugenio Suarez popped out to end the threat, after Josh Naylor got one of his two intentional walks. That ties him with Ketel Marte for the team lead this season, on four. The D-backs left runners in scoring position each inning from third through the eighth, and were 1-for-10 there. The hit was by Geraldo Perdomo, driving in Carroll in the seventh. Marte could have scored in that third, but Torey Lovullo said Ketel’s balky groin impacted his base-running.
Marte, Perdomo and Alek Thomas each had two hits. The recent surge of strikeouts came to an end, Arizona actually walking more times (6) than they struck out (5) tonight. The road-trip continues tomorrow, the team moving up California a bit, to start a three-game set against the Angels. Ryne Nelson starts for the D-backs, with a weirdly precise first pitch scheduled for 6:38 pm. Don’t be late!