:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45828128/476230371.0.jpg)
Cactus League record: 2-0.
Trevor Cahill got the start for Arizona, in his first spring outing. Seems like a bit of a work in progress: he still walked more than he struck out, but since that was due to a 1:0 ratio over his two innings on the mound, you can't really come to any particular conclusion. Seems his new slot is having a palpable effect.
After first game with a different arm slot, Dbacks' Trevor Cahill said, "It was just different. What my ball does is completely different."
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) March 5, 2015
After he left, the Diamondbacks took the lead, scoring twice in the bottom of the second on RBI singles by Cody Ross and Gerald Laird. However, Vidal Nuno returned the runs during the first of his two innings - he looked a little shaky, giving up five hits and no walks, with one strikeout. But in the bottom of the fourth, Arizona reclaimed the lead, veteran Danny Dorn cranking the first long ball of spring, a two-run shot that also scored Peter O'Brien.
Nuno was replaced by Archie Bradley, who looked smooth and effective in his two frames, touching 95, and appearing particularly impressive in a 1-2-3 opening frame which has 11 strikes in 13 pitches and a pair of K's as well as a soft groundout. He did allow a two-double in the sixth, but stranded the runner and finished with three K's, one hit and no walks.
Oliver Perez, J.C. Ramirez and Evan Marshall took things the rest of the way for the Diamondbacks. Perez bounced back after a lead-off double, striking out two batters, while Ramirez stranded a two-out double. Marshall made things interesting in the ninth, allowing one run and putting the tying run on base before getting the final out of the game to nail down the save.
On offense, O'Brien reached base twice, on a hit and a walk, and fellow competitor for the catcher's spot Laird picked up a pair of hits. Yasmany Tomas saw rather more activity at third-base than during the ASU game, and it was a bit of a mixed bag. He was challenged twice early on and delivered, then made a nice bare-handed play later, on a bunt attempt,. But a ball in the third inning, which helped lead to the Rockies scoring twice, was charitably scored an infield hit.
Tomorrow, hey - we get to play a team that aren't the Rockies! The Oakland Athletics will be the visitors to Salt River Fields, with Robbie Ray the scheduled starter for the Diamondbacks. First pitch will be at 1:10pm, Arizona time.