D-backs 1, Giants 8 - Rough Debuts

It was the best of times (yesterday), it was the blurst of times (like an hour ago). The new kids on the block were supposed to set the world on fire but the Giants were taking no part in helping the newest acquisitions feel welcome. If anything, the newest guys fit right in where the old guys left off, making a close game out of reach. Oh well, there’s always the next 43 games or so.

The new guys not pitching so well will see most of the news but facing off were two really good starters, Madison Bumgarner for the Giants and Zack Greinke for the D-backs. Greinke is coming off a well-deserved Pitcher of the Month award while Bumgarner has been really really good since coming back from a broken hand sustained during Spring Training.

Greinke started off the game facing a really scary top of the order in 2013, with McCutchen, Posey and Longoria right in a row. He retired the first too fairly simply, but Evan Longoria dumped a slow curve right down the left field line, just staying fair for a home run. 1-0 Giants.

The D-backs responded in quick fashion, with recently returned David Peralta doubling to lead off the inning. Escobar grounded out, moving Peralta to 3rd. Goldschmidt and Pollock walked to load the bases, but Souza lined out to 3rd after a nice play from Longoria to rob him of a hit, and Nick Ahmed grounded to short, stranding all three runners.

Greinke went three up, three down in the 2nd, and the D-backs got on the board in their half of the inning. Ketel Marte walked, and after a fly out from Mathis, Greinke singled with Peralta following that up with a single of his own to load the bases again. Escobar flew out to left-center, scoring Marte and making the game tied again at 1-1 after Goldy grounded out.

Greinke worked his magic again, getting another clean inning, and the D-backs had another scoring opportunity, this time after a 2-out double from Ahmed and single by Marte to put runners on the corners, but Jeff Mathis struck out to end another inning.

The teams traded singles in the 4th, and the Giants broke the tie in the 5th after Bumgarner singled Austin Slater from 2nd after he doubled. It’s now 2-1 Giants and from here on it is all Giants, all the time.

Bumgarner finished his outing after 5 innings, giving up 7 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts and only 1 run. The D-backs just couldn’t string together enough hits to break open the floodgates. Sometimes it happens, oh well.

The Giants bullpen on the other hand was just as good, allowing 3 hits over the final 4 innings to shut down the D-backs offense. Of course, the other bullpen wasn’t as fortunate as after another great outing from Greinke (6IP, 4H, 2ER, 5Ks), the collapse was not a sight to see.

Diekman had no control of anything, walking 2 and throwing the ball away to turn his run into an unearned one somehow. Ziegler came on in relief and was even worse, allowing 3 hits and a walk en route to 4 earned runs to blow the game wide open. McFarland wasn’t much better, allowing 3 more hits and another run. The only newbie to do well was Matt Andriese, who pitched a clean inning with the team down 7 runs. Yikes.

☆☆☆ - David Peralta (4 for 5, 2b) +17.9% WPA
☆☆ - Zack Greinke (6IP, 2ER, 5Ks) +11.9% WPA
☆ - Steven Souza Jr (0 for 4) -17.4% WPA

The bullpen will get a lot of flak for this, probably deserved. But the offense only scoring 1 run on the night didn’t help much. It’s too bad, after a great game on Wednesday the D-backs gave it right back tonight.

Hats off to those who stuck around for this one. It started like a fine game and turned into whatever the hell that was.

Let’s run this back tomorrow shall we? 6:40pm AZ time. Of course, that could change with all the baboons in the area.