Pfaadt Gem Goes For Naught as D-backs Shut Out by Giants

Brandon Pfaadt turned in the best start of his career, holding the San Francisco Giants to one run in seven innings, but took the loss when Arizona's offense could not support him. Pfaadt struck out seven and allowed just two hits and a walk, but one mistake pitch proved to be the difference. LaMonte Wade Jr. hammered out a center-cut fastball beyond the right field wall in the fourth inning for what was the game's only run.

The key pitch for today ended up being the sweeper, which he threw a season-most 33 times. Pfaadt landed five for called strikes and got 10 whiffs on 23 swings, as the Giants looked completely helpless when he threw it in and near the strike zone. Previously overly reliant on his 4-seam fastball in past starts, he's learned to incorporate his secondary pitches more.

"He's thrown a bunch of really good games," said D-backs manager Torey Lovullo. "There's the pitching, the pitch calling, the sequencing. There was some really counted outs, the type of outs we're looking for that you're not watching balls going into the gaps. There were a couple mistakes, a couple hard-hit balls, one carried over the fence for a home run. Brandon's outing isn't going to get lost on this, we know exactly what he did today. He deserved a better fate."

Since being called back to the roster on July 22nd, the D-backs top pitching prospect and No. 2 overall prospect has made three starts. In those three starts, he has allowed just seven runs in 18 2/3 innings with 16 strikeouts and two walks. While the organization did not trade for a starter at the trade deadline, Pfaadt's improvement on the mound may prove to be equally as crucial for both the short and long term outlook for the team.

"He's starting to get into a rhythm, he's starting to get more and more comfortable, that's what it's all about," said Lovullo. "Maturing day by day, getting up on the mound, delivering pitches the right way and getting us back in the dugout."

At the plate, the D-backs showed a continuing trend of being unable to score runs. Arizona has failed to score in their past 17 innings and only scored nine runs total in this four-game series. They didn't get their first runner in scoring position until the sixth inning, when Corbin Carroll stole his 34th base of the season and advanced on a throwing error by Patrick Bailey. They had chances to score in their final four trips to the plate, but could not take advantage with an 0-for-5 day with runners in scoring position.

"You're always looking for somebody to be the catalyst and get that big hit, get us over that hump for that moment that day," said Lovullo. "It isn't just one thing one day, there's several things that are going on each day offensively. It is a very capable offense, but we got to continue to build innings. I'm getting tired of just the one opportunity per game we can score a crooked number. We're good enough to put up a lot of points in every inning and I want everyone to remember that."

The D-backs (57-53) will travel tonight to Minneapolis to take on the Twins (55-54) this weekend for a three-game series. Minnesota leads the AL Central by two games and have very well in their home ballpark with a 30-24 record at Target Field. Right-hander Merrill Kelly (9-5, 3.23 ERA) will face right-hander Bailey Ober (6-5, 3.19 ERA), with first pitch at 5:10pm MST.