Record: 2-2. Change on 2013: +1/2.
After some decent performances by our bullpen - three runs over 15.1 innings of work across the first three games, a 1.76 ERA - it was time for some old-fashioned regression. Our relievers were tagged for nine runs on ten hits in five innings, led by Seth Simmons, who faced five batters and retired one of them, the other four coming around to score. Things went only somewhat better for the rest of our bullpen. Ryan Rowland-Smith mopped up the fifth and allowed a run; A.J. Schugel scattered five hits in his 1.2 innings, and Alex Sanabia gave up two home-runs. Jess Todd was the only pitcher to escape unscathed, with a hitless ninth.
This came after Patrick Corbin had continued the pattern of extended appearances by our starters, joining Brandon McCarthy by working four innings for his spring debut. He was charged with two runs, both of those coming on a home-run with no outs in the third, off the bat of Ryan Casteel. Otherwise, Corbin was fine, allowing a total of four hits and a walk, with a pair of strikeouts. He got himself pinged by a comebacker, after the homer, but there doesn't appear to have been any damage, as he stayed in the game to finish out his day's work.
Covering our offense will be brief, because there was hardly any to speak of. Franklin Morales and the Colorado relievers who followed, held the Diamondbacks to a mere two hits. Matt Tuiasosopo doubled with one out in the second, and that was it until an Alfredo Marte single with two down in the eighth inning. We managed a total of four walks, but it's never a good day when you commit more errors than you have hits. Arizona committed three of the former today, by A.J. Pollock, Chris Owings and Marte.
10,126 in attendance at Salt River Fields for this one, though I imagine that number was likely diminished sharply by the end of this one. Even I would probably have made my excuses and left, to escape one of the worst defeats in the history of Salt River Fields. Here's to better tomorrow, as we turn the page on February and start the month off with a double-bill on our home turf, against the Brewers in the afternoon, then the Cubs in the evening. We get to see Archie Bradley, so here's to rather better things all round!