D-backs’ Godley rebounds from first outing with solid second spring start

PEORIA, Ariz. – After his first start of spring training went off the rails early, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Godley bounced back nicely when he took the mound against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.

In his second start, Godley had better command of all of his pitches and was able to keep the ball on the ground.

Godley pitched three innings against the Mariners, giving up two hits and one walk. He didn’t allow a run, and he struck out three of the 12 batters he faced.

“It’s always nice to be able to go out there and get ground balls,” he said after the start. “I think I had one pop-up. Other than that, a lot of ground balls and that’s always a good thing.”

Godley lasted just 0.1 innings against the Chicago Cubs in that first outing, giving up three earned runs, four runs total, on two hits while also walking three batters.

The 6-foot-3 righty credited better command for the improved results.

“I think command of all of my pitches, really and truly,” he said. “I think I had everything in the zone, all the way from fastball, cutter, change up, and curveball.

“I think I threw all of them for strikes when I wanted to, and I could bury them when I needed to as well.”

Manager Torey Lovullo was pleased with his starter’s progress.

“I thought his direction and tempo and rhythm were much improved, and really that’s what it’s about in spring training for me,” Lovullo said. “It’s getting back on the mound and knocking off some of that rust and just feeling good about that next outing. And he did exactly what we wanted him to do.”

“He worked hard in between in these four days to make good things happen today,” Lovullo added. “He was executing pitches, he had a great game plan, and got through it pretty easy.

“I think it was 44 pitches over three innings. Those are the types of innings Zack can roll up and start to move that game in the right direction.”

Despite the strong outing from Godley, the D-backs fell, 7-3, to the Mariners.

Godley’s next scheduled start is against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday in Maryvale.

“Like I said the other day, it was my first outing and you got to try and just continue to get a feel for everything and keep moving forward,” Godley added in regards to his start against the Cubs.

“Biggest thing is to continue to try to build consistency. Try to repeat my delivery, repeat everything, and just continue to try and throw strikes and get guys out.”

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