:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69411303/1321826813.0.jpg)
Well, actually, it’s not quite the worst. But it’s certainly getting close. The Diamondbacks have now lost 20 of their last 23 games. But that is still fractionally better than the worst spell in the 2004 season, when they lost 22 of 25 between July 5 and August 1. What is, perhaps, worth noting, is that the lengthy streak of wretchedness there. began three games after then-manager Bob Brenly found himself taking a more-than-temporary leave of absence from his position at the time. It’s almost as if firing the manager might not have any real impact on a team’s performance. That said, Torey Lovullo openly scolding the team in the dugout last night was not something I expected to read about in Jack’s recap.
We’ll see if ever-present Merrill Kelly is able to do anything about the now record road losing streak this afternoon. Though he has gone without a win in about as long either, his last W coming back on April 27 against San Diego. Since then, he is 0-4 over six starts, though his ERA of 4.10 probably deserves a better fate than that. In his last five games, the D-backs have scored a total of just 11 runs. The only Kelly start last month where they provided tacos was on May 2, when they got four runs in the eighth to break a 4-4 tie against Colorado, long after Kelly had left the mound. But Kelly has taken the ball every fifth game like a yeoman. And for that, we thank him.
No alternative entertainment this afternoon. For some inexplicable reason, there has not been a rush of volunteers to guest recap the games this month, so looks like I will be covering this one. No Lovullo pre-game audio either, though he did say that Chris Devenski has had Tommy John surgery, so that’s him done for the season. The curse of the veteran relievers continues for Mike Hazen and the Diamondbacks.