Diamondbacks 4, Mariners 10: Swept out to sea

After losing the first two games of the season, and seven of their last eight, the Diamondbacks looked to salvage a game against the Mariners

Chris Flexen took the mound for the Mariners today, had to work around a little traffic on the base paths, early on. Josh Rojas lead off the game by reaching first base when the throw on what should have been an easy ground out ended up bouncing off the dugout fencing. Unfortunately, he was quickly erased as Ketel Marte grounded into a double play to clear the bases. Pavin Smith walked, but stayed at first when David Peralta struck out to end the inning.

The Dbacks put together another chance in the second. With one out, they had runners on second and third, following a VanMeter lead off single and a one out walk from Andrew Young. Nothing came from it, though, as a fly out and a strike out ended the inning unspectacularly.

Meanwhile, Tyler Gilbert took the mound again for the Diamondbacks . He started out strong, giving up a two out single the first baseman Ty France in the first innings, but got Kyle Seager to line to center to end the inning without any damage. The second and third were even cleaner, as he sat down the side in order for both of those innings, recording two strike outs along the way.

The tie would be broken in the top of the fourth. Mitch Haniger walked to start things off and then went to third on a France single. Seager then loaded the bases when he grounded to first basemen Pavin Smith, who threw home, despite Haniger not going, and allowed Seager to reach first. The runs came after that. Abraham Toro grounded into an RBI force out, and Tom Murphy lofted a sac fly to score another. The damage ended there, though, as Toro tried unsuccessfully to steal second for the third out. 2-0 Mariners

Both teams were quiet for a bit then, trading quick half innings until the bottom of the sixth, when the Diamondbacks offense decided to wake up. Rojas lead off with his 30 double of the season, and one Ketel Marte fly out later, he went home on a Pavin Smith double. That brought up David Peralta with one on, and one out. The power hasn’t been there much this season for Peralta, but he knocked a deep fly ball over the left centerfield wall to give the Diamondbacks the lead. 3-2 Diamondbacks

It would be short lived, however. Gilbert went out for the top of the seventh, but was immediately greeted by a Toro double and Tom Murphy single, putting runners on the coroners with no outs. Next up was the rookie Jarred Kelenic. Gilbert buckled down and got him to ground into a double play, but Toro was able to score from third, tying the game. The bases were empty now, though, and Gilbert recorded the final out and left with a no decision. Tied at 3

In the top of the ninth, Tyler Clippard came on to try and hold the lead. Ty France grounded out to short stop Rojas, but a poor throw that Pavin Smith wasn’t able to recover allowed him to reach first. Clippard got a fly out from Seager, and a fielder’s choice erased France, but he was replaced at first by Toro. A stolen base and a walk put runners on first and second with two outs Jarred Kelenic. He made good contact, but Marte was able to track it down in center to end the inning and keep the score tied.

Joe Mantiply worked around the ghost runner and a defensive miscue from Marte in the top of the tenth to keep the game tied. In the bottom of the tenth, Andrew Young was the ghost runner and Joe McCarthy moved him to third with a perfectly executed bunt. Christian Walker, as a pinch hitter, and Rojas had an easy chance to end it, but neither were able to seal the deal and bring Young home from third.

Lovullo sent out out Taylor Clark for the top of the 11th, and the ghost runner and two lead off walks quickly loaded the bases for Kyle Seager and the Mariners. Seager hit a double down the right field line to score two and break the game open. Clarke left without recording an out, and Lovullo brought in Sean Poppin, who wasn’t able to stop the bleeding either. Both of his inherited runners scored, and a couple more for good measure before he was also taken out in favor of Brett De Geus. He gave up another run and then mercifully recorded the final out of the inning. 10-4 Mariners

Fangraphs

Shang-Chi: Joe Mantiply, 48.4%

Xialing: David Peralta, 20.9%

Wenwu: Taylor Clarke, -29.4%

Razor Fist: Josh Rojas -24.3%, Andrew Young, -24.2%

17 brave souls joined us in the GDT, lead by DC with 62. Along side him for today’s game was:

AzDbackfanInDc, Diamondhacks, GuruB, Imstillhungry95, KJKrug, Keegan Thompson, Makakilo, Michael McDermott, Oldenschoole, Schilling2001, Snacks&Dbacks, Snake_Bitten, edbigghead, gzimmerm, kilnborn, makattack71, since_98

COTD goes to Hacks, for roasting Lovullo’s comment about how often he looks at the WS banner hanging from the rafters

A much needed off day for the Diamondbacks tomorrow, then the Rangers come to town for two. We’ll see you then!