Diamondbacks 6, Padres 3: A case of the Mondays

Arizona hasn’t lost on a Monday for over two months.

Record: 45-46. Pace: 80-82. Change on 2024: 0.

If you had been the Monday recapper, and had spent the time between your games in cryogenic statis, you would probably be thinking the D-backs were having a pretty good season. Because the last time they lost on a Monday was all the way back on May 5, a 5-4 defeat to the Mets at Chase Field. In fact, they only have two Monday losses all season, and came into this contest at Petco on a six-game start of the week winning streak. That’s now seven, largely courtesy of an excellent start from Zac Gallen, and the re-appearance of Arizona’s hitters. That proved enough to overcome some shaky relief work and wobbly defense, though we also had a sure-fire play of the year candidate.

Even before the game started tonight, the Diamondbacks received some bad news. Closer Shelby Miller was placed on the Injured List with a forearm strain. There was no details available about the injury before the game, but I would imagine it’s unlikely he’ll miss the minimum amount of time. It means that all three pitchers for Arizona to have multiple saves this year are on the IL, Miller joining A.J. Puk andJustin Martinez. Your leader on the active roster going into play tonight was is… um, were Jalen Beeks, Kevin Ginkel, Bryce Jarvis, Anthony DeSclafani and, I guess, Ryne Nelson, with one apiece. It also left Beeks as the only uninterrupted survivor of the Opening Day bullpen.

Then, just before first pitch, All-Star starter Ketel Marte was scratched from the lineup. The team said it was right groin tightness, but he is listed as day-to-day. So hopefully it’s nothing serious. Though the way this season has gone, I’d not be surprised if Marte develops gangrene overnight, and his leg falls off. It’s not what we wanted before a series which feels uncomfortably like a “must win”. And the first inning didn’t exactly inspire confidence. Geraldo Perdomo looked to turn an inning-ending double-play, but his throw went up the line, and clanked off Josh Naylor’s glove, allowing the runner to trot home from third.

Fortunately, the offense – all but absent on Sunday – had arrived in San Diego. A Eugenio Suarez double in the second scored Josh Naylor, on the move with the pitch, all the way from first. That tied things at 1-1, and in the third, Arizona took the lead when a Lourdes Gurriel single scored Corbin Carroll. But the big blow came in the top of the fifth: Naylor smashed his 11th home-run of the year (above), a two-run shot that also scored Gurriel. It made the score 4-1, and Gallen was looking increasingly impressive. He was spotting his fastball, which played up his curve nicely. He may not have had a better inning this year than the fifth, where he K’d Martin Maldonado, Fernando Tatis and Jackson Merrill.

Gallen’s night ended after six innings and 103 pitches, tying his season high. He allowed five hits, all singles and just the unearned run. It is worth noting Gallen did have almost equally good starts in early May, allowing two runs over 13 innings on just four hits, in back-to-back outings against the Mets. So excited proclamations from some quarters that “Gallen is back” are premature, much though we all want to see it. This was still an impressive outing, and there is one big area of improvement over the May outings. Gallen allowed only one walk to the 49 batters faced here and against San Francisco. In May, the ratio was 6 in 48. So we’ll see…

It was then over to the terrors of the Arizona bullpen, led by Kyle Backhus. Though tonight, it was more like the terrors of Perdomo: he committed his second E of the night, allowing the leadoff man to reach in the seventh. A single brought the tying run to the plate, and a bunt moved both into scoring position. A groundout scored an unearned run, but Backhus stopped the damage there. The D-backs got the run back immediately, however. James McCann walked, and scored on Corbin Carroll’s tenth triple of the year (above are all ten). He is the first player in franchise history to reach double digits before the break. Carroll then scored on a Perdomo single, as Geraldo redeemed himself. 6-2 Arizona.

But you didn’t think we’d escape without a save situation, the day we lost our third closer of the year, did you? Out again in the bottom of the eighth, Backhus allowed a lead-off homer, making it 6-3. A walk followed, and after a pitching change, eight of Juan Morillo’s first nine pitches also sailed wide, putting the tying run on base for the Padres with one out. Fortunately, he got a pop-up and then, after running the count full, got a swing at what would have been ball four. for the third out. Arizona were unable to add on, although Josh Naylor stole his 11th base, passing Carroll. #YCPB. By a process of elimination, that meant your new closer [at least for tonight] was… Ginkel. Yep, he of the 9.47 ERA.

He was facing the top of the San Diego order, and a leadoff walk didn’t inspire much confidence. Merrill then hammered a pitch at 104.2 mph, towards the gap in right center, for what looked sure to be extra bases. But somehow, center fielder Alek Thomas made it over there, kept his concentration despite an onrushing Carroll for a stellar sliding grab (above). Any momentum for the Padres deflated like a leaky balloon, and Manny Machado then hit into a game-ending double-play. Ginkel now has the team lead for saves on the active roster with… [/checks notes] two, and Gallen got his seventh win. Maybe that extra day off did the trick, after all?

In Morillo’s defense, Torey Lovullo said afterwards that the pitcher only arrived at Petco Park in the sixth inning! He also said that Miller will have imaging done on his forearm, but there’s a pretty good chance that Marte will be back in the line-up tomorrow. Which brings us to… A brisk Gameday Thread for a Monday night, closing at 279 comments. Comment of the Night goes to almost the last one, from ChefAZ:

While I’m not going to tell you how to fan, I can assure you that visions of Marte’s groin will definitely not be dancing in MY head tonight. He’ll just have to recover without that. Tomorrow’s game sees the same two teams, with a 6:40 pm first pitch, Arizona time. Merrill Kelly starts for the D-backs, in what should be a good pitching match-up.