Diamondbacks 4, Royals 4: Trayce to the rescue

Record: 5-9-3. Change on 2019: -1.5.

The Diamondbacks had not lost any of the last five games, but had two down in the bottim of the ninth with the bases empty, and on the wrong end of a 4-3 score against the Royals at Salt River Fields this afternoon. However, Trayce Thompson hit his team-leading third home-run of spring to salvage things. Nick Ahmed’s brother Mike then walked, to give Arizona hope of a walk-off win. But that Ahmed was then picked off, and the D-backs had to settle for their third tie since Friday.

Still, there were other positives to be taken away here. Madison Bumgarner had his best start of spring, he and Andrew Chafin combining for five shutout inning. MadBum went 3.2 innings, giving up three hits and a walk, striking out three. He threw 73 pitches, so with two more starts likely between now and Opening Day, is on course there. Chafin allowed hits to his first batter and the first he faced in the fifth, but stranded both men. The news wasn’t so good for Alex Young, who was tagged for seven hits and a walk over 3.1 innings, with two strikeouts. In particular, he gave up three home-runs. Joe Mantiply got the final two outs.

Arizona took the lead in the fourth, after Kole Calhoun clobbered his second home-run scoring himself and Christian Walker. A Yasmany Tomas single pushed across the D-backs’ third run in the eighth, before Thompson’s last gasp heroics. Walker had a pair of hits, with Thompson walking in addition to his home-run. Trayce will probably not make the Opening Day roster, but hitting .304 with a 1.230 OPS in spring is a good way to get people to remember your name for when the need arises during the season.

Tomorrow, it’s off to Goodyear and a game against Cincinnati. Taylor Clarke gets the start for Arizona.