D-backs Bullpen Collapse in 8th Leads to Crushing Loss
All the good vibes from last weekend's victories against the Padres evaporated in the 8th inning for the Diamondbacks. Handed a 4-2 lead, Joe Mantiply came into the game and gave up three straight singles. Manager Torey Lovullo then brought in Scott McGough, who gave up three more singles. By the time the dust settled, the Rockies had scored four runs. Justin Lawrence struck out the side in the top of the 9th against a completely demoralized team and just like that their smiles were turned upside down as they trudged out of the dugout and back to the locker room.
Merrill Kelly was outstanding tonight. He went six innings striking out 11 batters and allowing just two runs on solo home runs by Elehuris Montero and and Ezequiel Tovar. Lovullo lifted him after just 92 pitches however, due in part to Kelly had to be taken from his previous start mid at bat due to hamstring cramps. Kelly had also given up the second homer and a two-out double in that 6th inning, and he started to miss spots, so it was probably time to pull him.
When Kelly left, the D-backs had a 4-2 lead. Christian Walker doubled home Corbin Carroll for a run in the first inning. Alek Thomas and Gabriel Moreno hit back-to-back doubles in the second inning to bring home the second run. It looked like the D-backs were on their way to blowing out struggling Rockies starter Chris Flexen.
Instead Flexen then retired the next 11 batters in a row, shutting down the D-backs offense before Lourdes Gurriel finally singled with one out in the 6th to break that string. Walker followed with an opposite field two-run homer, his 25th of the year. Despite the four runs, the D-backs had just five hits through that point in the game and would not get another one. Three Rockies relievers combined to retire the final nine batters in a row to close it out.
There really is no way to sugarcoat this loss, which knocked the D-backs back under .500 at 59-60 on the year and 3.5 games back in the Wild Card chase. That makes tomorrow's game virtually a "must win" game. Unfortunately it looks like all of the moves the Mike Hazen made at the deadline and with recent roster changes are simply not enough to overcome a lackluster offense and leaky bullpen.
At the beginning of spring training Hazen was asked how he would define a successful season. He answered by saying being a buyer a the deadline and playing meaningful games in September would make 2023 a success. Expectations were raised after the team went 48-32 in their first 80 games. But a deep slump leading into the trade deadline made him a tepid buyer, unwilling to go all in based on what he was seeing. They've gone just 11-28 since that promising first half start and have 15 more games in the month of August. Just how meaningful games will be come September 1st remains to be seen, but it's not looking promising.
