Grit Index: D-backs surrender five home runs in series finale loss to Cardinals

Jun 7, 2013, 3:57 AM | Updated: 3:57 am

The Arizona Diamondbacks surrendered five home runs, and endured an eight-run fourth inning that was too much to overcome against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night.

The D-backs were handed a 12-8 loss by the Cardinals to split their four-game series at Busch Stadium.

Matt Adams, Daniel Descalso, Matt Holliday, Matt Carpenter and even starting pitcher Shelby Miller all went deep against D-backs’ pitching. Arizona starter Ian Kennedy was tagged for three of those homers.

The Good

Despite trailing by a 12-2 margin after five innings, the D-backs refused to quit. Arizona began to chip away, scoring three runs in the seventh and another three in the ninth.

Gerardo Parra went 3-for-4 with an RBI for Arizona.

The Bad

Kennedy, who’s endured a rocky 2013 campaign thus far, saw his struggles continue against the Cardinals. The D-backs’ right-hander allowed 10 earned runs on 13 hits in four innings. He also walked two and struck out four on the night. Kennedy fell to 3-4 on the season and saw his ERA rise to 5.72.

Reliever Matt Reynolds didn’t fare much better than Kennedy. He surrendered back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning upon entering the game.

Noted

• The Cardinals improved to 9-0-3 in their last 12 series. They also hit five homers for the first time since July 27.

• The D-backs drafted right-hander Braden Shapley from Nevada with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. They selected RHP Aaron Blair from Marshall University with the 36th pick and shortstop Justin Williams from Terrebonne High School in Louisiana with the 52nd pick.

What’s Next

The D-backs head home to Chase Field to take on the division rival San Francisco Giants on Friday, June 7. Patrick Corbin (9-0, 2.06) will go for his NL-leading 10th win. He will be opposed by Matt Cain (4-3, 5.45) for the Giants. The game is scheduled to start at 6:40 p.m. local time and can be heard on Arizona Sports 620.

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Members of the Busch Stadium grounds crew roll up the tarp in preparation for a baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

Two St. Louis Cardinals fans pass the time as they wait for the rain-delayed start of a baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny waits in the dugout for the start of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

St. Louis Cardinals' Kyle Lohse delivers a pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Trevor Cahill sets to deliver a pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Tony Cruz throws to first to get Arizona Diamondbacks' Gerardo Parra at first on a ground out during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

St. Louis Cardinals' Rafael Furcal gestures back to the dugout after hitting a double in the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Chris Young makes a sliding stop on a double by St. Louis Cardinals' Rafael Furcal in the third inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Aaron Hill (2) stops short as he tries to steal second, while St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Daniel Descalso waits to apply the tag in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012 in St. Louis. Hill was out. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

St. Louis Cardinals' Kyle Lohse (26) scores from second on a single by Allen Craig as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero misplays the throw in the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jason Motte (30) kicks at the dirt on the mound as Arizona Diamondbacks' Chris Young circles the bases after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012 in St. Louis. The Diamondbacks won 2-1.(AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt (44) watches his solo home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012 in St. Louis. The Diamondbacks won 2-1. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Jon Jay (19) climbs the wall as fans reach for a home run ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012 in St. Louis. The Diamondbacks won 2-1.(AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

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