Miami 4, Arizona 5: Good Enough

Mike Leake toed the rubber for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Wednesday’s matinee rubber game against the Miami Marlins. The Diamondbacks struck first, scoring on a lead-off home run by Abraham Almonte. The lead was short-lived though, as Mike Leake was tagged for a pair of runs in the second inning, the Marlins hitting Leake with authority. The scoring began with a solo home run by Starlin Castro, continuing Leake’s struggles with the long ball. This was followed by a well-struck single by former Diamondbacks prospect, Isan Diaz. Diaz was chased home by another hard hit ball, this one a triple to right by Harold Ramirez. Just as things looked like they were about to get out of hand, Mike Leake did that thing he does and settled in to get out of the inning.

The Diamondbacks rebounded in the second inning. Jake Lamb, playing to earn a contract for 2020, led the bottom of the second off with a five-pitch walk. Lamb was promptly driven home, ailing lower body and all, by a triple, courtesy of Domingo Leyba. Leyba then scored on a one-out single by Jarrod Dyson. The inning lacked much more excitement, though it did seem to crawl along. Mike Leake was out on a bunt attempt, Almonte walked. A mound visit slowed the pace some more before Josh Rojas grounded out to third.

There wasn’t much to speak of in the third. The Marlins wasted a two-out double as Leake appeared to have found his groove. The Diamondbacks offense managed to capitalize on a single and an error to score a run, putting them up 4-2.

Mike Leake tried to coast through the fourth, but was instead tagged for a two-out homer by Austin Dean, his 14th home run allowed as an Arizona Diamondback and his 40th overall on the season.

Christian Walker smacked his 26th home run of the season in the fifth inning, helping to pad the lead some. Mike Leake finally did find his groove and pitched a clean fifth inning. The sixth inning was also hit-free, except for when Leake pluncked Isan Diaz. Doing what few Arizona pitchers seem to be able to this season, Leake pitched his way into the seventh inning, recording two outs before surrendering a single. Lovullo was semi-quick to come get Leake at this point, as Leake had shown himself to be settled in and had only thrown 86 pitches. Not to worry though, Kevin Ginkel got the call from the bullpen and induced a groundout to third.

The eighth inning was a bit of an adventure. Starlin Castro smoked a ball to right, continuing the afternoon’s theme of keeping Almonte busy. Almonte was unable to play this one cleanly and Castro wound up on third. Castro scored on a single to center by Jorge Alfaro. Diaz then struck out, followed by Harold Ramirez reaching on catcher’s interference. This brought an end Ginkel’s night. Archie Bradley was then handed the ball. Two pitches later, the inning was over and, essentially, so was the game.

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The Good: Archie Bradley +26.7%
The Bad (not really): Doming Leyba +15.1%
Oops: Josh Rojas -8.9%

Not surprisingly, it was a fairly tame gameday thread. No comments managed to go Sedona red. All told, there were 14 participants and 143 comments. GuruB led the way with 30 remarks, followed by AzDbackfanInDc with 29.

The Diamondbacks have already departed for San Diego to take on the Padres. Luke Weaver is expected to pitch this weekend.