Diamondbacks 3, Giants 6: Lazy Sunday afternoon

Record: 5-8-1. Five-inning record: 5-7-2.

I did briefly check in on this afternoon’s game, but saw nothing which made it look like it was worth hanging around. To be fair, I think I probably checked in at the low point of today’s proceedings. The score was 5-0 to the Giants, and I think the Diamondbacks wee getting outhit by an 8-1 margin as well. Things perhaps weren’t quite as bad overall as that makes it seem. But, I’ll keep this brief, since you are probably as interested in reading about this one as i am in writing about it. When the most interesting thing is our starting pitcher leaving the game TWICE...

Caleb Smith was the man in question, and recorded seven outs through the end of the third. The other two went to Tyler Gilbert, who did a nice job of escaping the bases loaded, one out jam he inherited in the second, getting Tommy La Stella to line into a double-play. Smith then came back to the mound for the third inning which is... interesting. He seemed to be channeling the spirit of Robbie Ray, needing 58 pitches to get through 2.1 innings. On the plus side, five K’s in those seven outs. On the other hand, four walks. Like I said: very Ray-esque.

Chris Devenski solidified his case for a bullpen spot, with another scoreless inning, but Alex Young did not, being charged with five runs over three innings, on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts. He was, to a degree, BABIP’d to death, with seven of the eleven balls put into play, turning into hits, six of them being singles. Still, that’s an ugly line. Taylor Guilbeau and Bradley Roney finished the game off, each tossing a scoreless frame.

The D-backs were blanked for the first six innings, and didn’t have that many chances to score through that point. The closest they came was David Peralta being thrown out at the plate in the sixth, trying to score all the way from first on a double by Asdrubal Cabrera. They finally got on the board n the seventh, thanks to old friend James Sherfy, now pitching for the Giants. With two outs, he appeared to feel sorry for his old team, allowing a double to Wyatt Mathisen before walking Pavin Smith. Josh VanMeter then swatted his second three-run homer of spring. Smith had the best day among the D-backs hitters, getting on base three times, with a hit and two walks.

Tomorrow, it’s back to Peoria for Arizona, this time to face the other tenant, the Seattle Mariners. Taylor Widener is the scheduled starter in that 1:10 pm game, which does not appear to have a local broadcast.