Ryne Nelson's Fastball Overpowers Giants in Close Win
In his first start of the spring, Ryne Nelson used his slider to great effect against the Rockies. In his second, it was his 4-seam fastball that overpowered the Giants lineup for three innings in a 2-1 win over the Giants.
Nelson threw 29 fastballs on the day, landing six for called strikes and getting nine whiffs on 16 swings.
"I thought the fastball played very well for him today," said Diamondbacks bench coach Jeff Banister. "After a little bit of a tough start, giving up the ball off the wall, he was able to come back and mix in the fastball. Fastball had good life to it, breaking ball a bit better shape today, but really thought [he] battled well."
Nelson found himself in a jam immediately. Jung Hoo Lee and Marco Luciano smoked a pair of balls to right center, resulting in a double and a deep flyout. He got out of the jam by striking out Michael Conforto and David Villar on high fastballs, which topped out at 97.3 MPH. His lone blemish came in his third and final inning, allowing a solo home run to Lee on a center-cut fastball. Nelson finished with just one run allowed on the day, striking out five and not walking a batter.
"Fastball felt good, guys were swinging through it. I was really happy with the slider," said Nelson.
Nelson in the past has been overly reliant on his mid-90s fastball, which became a problem last season. With improved command and shape of the slider, it should help his development as a pitcher.
"It's a focus on trying to protect it, keep them off balance and guessing, making sure they can't key in on the fastball. Being able to use it late in counts and when I'm just pumping heaters in there, it's easy to lock in on that pitch."
The D-backs jumped on Logan Webb for two runs in the first inning. After a Ketel Marte single, Jake McCarthy smoked a ball off the wall in left center at 109 MPH for a double. Gabriel Moreno drove in the first run with a groundout to second and a throwing error by Giants shortstop Marco Luciano got the second run home. Those two runs wound up holding up thanks to a strong effort from the D-backs pitching staff.
The game got close in the 9th, as the Giants got runners on the corners with one out. Ricky Karcher was able to escape the jam, cutting down the tying run at the plate on a comebacker on the mound. Karcher then rung up Cooper Hummel to secure
Christian Walker was hit in the hand/forearm area in the 4th inning and exited the game. After the game, the D-backs announced that Walker suffered a right hand contusion, but x-rays were negative.
Blaze Alexander had his typical impact day, smoking a pair of line drives over 100 MPH and being athletic in the field. The infield prospect continues to make a strong case to be considered for the Opening Day roster. Today was his first start at third base, as the D-backs are trying to add more versatility to his defensive profile.
