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Ninth Inning Bites D-backs Again in 5-4 Loss to Marlins

Merrill Kelly good, but not good enough, offense flails, Andrew Chafin takes loss
Marlins at Diamondbacks May 10, 2023

Box Score

The Miami Marlins hit a double off Andrew Chafin to start the top of the ninth inning and one out later Miguel Castro gave up a double to Joey Wendle, allowing the go ahead run to score in a 5-4 Diamondbacks loss. The Marlins won two of three here in Chase Field and won two of three in Miami to take the season series 4-2.  Today was the fourth time in five games the Diamondbacks bullpen has given up runs in the ninth inning. 

Merrill Kelly only gave up four hits and one walk in six innings today. But one of the hits was a three-run homer by Jesus Sanchez on a fastball at the bottom middle of the zone. Kelly should have had Sanchez struck out, as he landed a two strike cutter right at the bottom edge of the zone. But catcher Jose Herrera dropped the pitch, which allowed Sanchez to get deeper in the at bat, punishing the catcher's mistake. Kelly also gave up a leadoff double and an RBI single in the fourth inning.  Those hits accounted for all four runs.  

After the game Torey Lovullo seemed to think Kelly was a little bit distracted by the potential dropped third strike.  Kelly said that he wasn't thinking about that and that he just made a mistake to Sanchez, who had burned the D-backs all series, going 6-11 with five doubles and a home run.

"I was trying to go fastball up and away" Kelly said, "Obviously I just yanked it down in the heart of the zone. I know it was down, but where a lefty had just seen at least two changeups down in that area, his eyes were already kinda there".

Kelly had cruised through the first three innings, retiring all nine batters, and retired the side in order in the 6th inning, striking out the last two batters he faced. His velocity was up almost two miles per hour early in the start and he ended up + 1.3 MPH for the outing. He threw 61 strikes out of 97 pitches, and struck out six. It felt like he should have had a better result than four runs allowed and a no decision. 

The D-backs scored four runs in the fourth inning with just one hit. That was thanks to four walks and a balk issued by Marlins starter Edward Cabrera, who didn't make it out of the inning.  The lone hit was an RBI single by Geraldo Perdomo.  Perdomo had earlier been robbed of a hit by Garrett Hampson who made a great diving catch on a low line drive in the second inning with a man on second base. 

The offense was held in check the rest of the day however, mustering just four hits in total and striking out a season high 15 times, 10 of those coming at the hand of the Marlins relievers. The team's slump in May with runners in scoring position continued, as they went just 1-7 in those situations. That lack of offense provided zero margin for error, and unfortunately the "positive role" relievers Chafin and Castro were not up to the task of taking a scoreless tie to the bottom of the ninth.  The D-backs are one of three teams that have yet to play an extra inning game this year, the other two being the Rockies and the Nationals. 

One hitter who had an especially frustrating day is Josh Rojas, who grounded out and struck out three times.  Rojas has been slumping since April 21st, going 5-40, .125 B.A., with 14 strikeouts.  He's also been more aggressive this year. Last year he was right at 4 pitches per plate appearance. He came in today with 3.67 Pitches/PA.  League average is 3.92.  Always accountable, honest, and available, Rojas addressed his struggles.

"Yeah, and I said that when I was going well too. I was swinging at pitches I didn't want to be swinging at and I was getting away with it. Now that I'm not getting away with it I've got to try to dial it back a little bit. I have been the last couple of games, taking more pitches. But now I've got to find the middle ground of being aggressive and taking pitches off the plate. I'm taking more pitches but I'm also taking a few more strikes than I'd like to take.  I'm right there, I feel like I'm close, it's only a matter of time."

To his credit, Rojas has continued to play excellent defense at third base. He's second in MLB with +4 defensive runs saved at third base despite being in a platoon with Evan Longoria and Emmanuel Rivera. 

Listen to Lovullo, Kelly, and Rojas discuss the game down below:

The Diamondbacks fall to 20-17, and start a big four game series against division rivals San Francisco Giants, game time 6:40.  Tommy Henry goes against Alex Cobb.