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Cactus League record: 12-10-1. Change on 2016: -5.5.
Taijuan Walker had one of his roughest starts this spring, being tagged for four runs in only 4.2 innings, on six hits and a walk - the latter being only his second base on balls issues this pre-season. He did still strike out four, giving him the pre-season lead for K’s across all pitchers, but according to Nick Piecoro, Walker said he was battling his fastball command all night. Although his ERA rose to 3.57, you’ve still got to be impressed with a K:BB ratio of 25:2 in 17.2 innings of work
The Arizona bullpen gave up a lot of hits tonight, but managed to stop most of them from crossing home-p;ate. Zack Godley allowed one run as he finished off the fifth and pitched the sixth, and then there were scoreless frames from Tom Wilhelmsen and T.J. McFarland, even though the latter gave up two singles and a double in his inning. Erik Davis then closed things out, allowing a run on two hits. Another good day for Arizona’s team K:BB ratio, with six strikeouts to just the one walk.
The offense delivered another shoewizard loss: the D-backs were 5-1 down going into the seventh inning. But they plundered the back end of the Athletics bullpen for seven hits and five walks over the final three frames, scoring twice in the seventh, before a five-run eighth inning, and then adding two more in the ninth. Kevin Cron had a two-run homer in the seventh, and Jeremy Hazelbaker keyed the big eighth with a two-run single there. Sergio Alcantara drove in the ninth inning runs, with another two-run single.
Arizona were outhit 14-10, but the walks were helpful. Cron had two hits, driving in three, and Chris Owings also had a pair of hits. Kristopher Negron, Ketel Marte and Ronnie Freeman each got a hit and drew a walk, as part of a D-backs line-up which was missing quite a number of likely roster candidates. One of those, A.J. Pollock, played in a minor-league game today, and ran the bases before the game. He said. “That felt really good. I haven't really felt anything since [March 12], so that's a good sign." He’ll repeat that minor-league outing tomorrow, and all going well, could return to Cactus League action on Thursday.
Tomorrow, it’s back to Salt River and an afternoon game for the D-backs, with Robbie Ray getting the start there.