Ryne Nelson Shoves for Seven Strong Innings in Win
Ryne Nelson had been trending in the right direction according to pitching coach Brent Strom, learning how to pitch and utilize all of his stuff instead of just trying to throw the ball by hitters. It all came together today for Nelson, who dominated the Giants lineup for seven strong innings as the D-backs won 5-2, avoiding a sweep in the three game series finale at Oracle Park. The D-backs are one of only three teams, along with the Orioles and Rays that have not been swept yet this season.
Nelson gave up a two out double in the first to Michael Conforto, his fourth double of the series. A walk to J.D. Davis followed but Nelson struck out Blake Sabol to end the threat after 22 pitches. It looked like it might be a short outing for the rookie, but instead he settled into the rocking chair, retiring he next 15 batters he faced.
With two outs in the 6th, Nelson appeared to have the third out when Thairo Estrada struck out on a slider in the dirt. The pitch got away from Gabriel Moreno and bounced to the backstop, allowing Estrada to reach first. A walk to Conforto and a base hit by J.D. Davis brought home a run, the only one scored off Nelson today.
A confident Torey Lovullo sent Nelson back out for the 7th inning, and there was push moment when Luis Matos singled with two outs. But Isan Diaz popped out to shallow center. Nelson's final line was 7 IP. 3H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO. He evened his record to 4-4 while throwing 89 pitches, 62 for strikes, including first pitch strikes to 19 of 27 batters faced.
Were it not for Matos reaching base in the 7th, Lovullo said he would have even sent Nelson back out for the 8th inning as well. "I was watching some of the conversations that I was thinking were being had by the Giant players in their dugout. He had good stuff and I think that their body language was telling me he had real good stuff today, so he deserved that opportunity."
Nelson came into the game having thrown his fastball 55% of the time and his changeup just 12%. But today he used all his pitches, dropping the fastball usage to 47% (42 in total), using his change a whopping 25 times, and getting seven swings and misses with the pitch. The most swings and miss he had with the change in a game before today was three. If this is the evolution of a young pitcher maturing the D-backs may yet have the strong third starter they are looking for. The fact that it was Nelson that stepped up with a huge game in front of a packed, hostile stadium in a playoff like atmosphere should not be overlooked.
The D-backs had jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Anthony DeSclafani in the top of the first on an RBI double by Christian Walker, scoring Ketel Marte from first base. Marte had hit a long single on a line drive off the wall in right that had an exit velocity of 107.2 MPH. The ball bounced right back to the right fielder however, and Marte had to hold up. In the second inning the D-backs got one more run on a double by Alek Thomas and an RBI single to left by Jake McCarthy. They didn't score again until the 8th, as DeSclafani pitched well for the rest of his outing through the 6th inning.
After the Giants had closed the gap to 2-1 in the 7th, Marte came up in the 8th inning with McCarthy on second base and launched his 14th homer of the year and 4th on this road trip to deep center field, to put the D-backs up 4-1.
Perhaps the most pivotal play in the game occurred in the bottom of the 8th inning. Andrew Chafin came on in relief and got two outs but walked Estrada in between. With the right handed Davis coming up, Lovullo went to Scott McGough, who wobbled. Davis hit an RBI single to get the Giants to within two runs. McGough then walked Sabol to put runners on first and second. Patrick Bailey came up and hit a ground ball single up the third base line but a diving Evan Longoria kept the ball from going to the outfield.
Not even sure if the ball was fair, Longoria said everything had fallen silent in his ears until he started to get up and the crowd noise cued him that something was happening. He looked up to see Sabol had run almost all the way to third base and Davis still hadn't run home. At that point he ran at Sabol who turned back towards second and Longoria threw to shortstop Perdomo for the inning ending out. Longoria said had Davis run home it would have been a much more difficult play to try to get Sabol in a rundown before Davis scored.
Asked if this was the biggest play of the game, Lovullo was effusive in his praise of the veteran third baseman. "Without a doubt. You guys ask me a lot about Evan Longoria and what he means to this team. I think in one play he defined for every fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks exactly what he means. It's about commitment, effort, focus. He laid it out there and saved us."
McGough had to work out of a jam in the 9th as well, allowing a one out single and a two out walk. But a sharp one hopper by Estrada to Perdomo, who flipped to Marte for the force ended the game with a sigh of relief. McGough picked up his 6th save and has clearly taken over the 9th inning role now.
Lovullo conceded that this was a must win game and the team responded. Everyone walked into the locker room with focus and understanding of the importance of today's game.
With the win the D-backs stretch their lead in the NL West over the Giants back to 2.5 games. The Dodgers, who started the day 2.0 games back, are still playing the Astros as of this writing. Arizona has a day off tomorrow after completing a grueling 17 games in 17 day stretch that included three games in three times and some very stiff competition. They'll have a day off tomorrow and then host the Tampa Bay Rays for three games at Chase Field, starting Tuesday night.
