Grit Index: Nolasco silences D-backs, Marlins salvage series finale

On an afternoon when offense wasn’t at a premium between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Miami Marlins, one mistake ultimately proved to be the difference.

D-backs left-hander Wade Miley was terrific through the early innings — retired 13 of the first 14 batters he faced — but got into trouble in the bottom of the sixth. Following singles by Adeiny Hechavarria and Derek Dietrich, Miley had a chance to get out of the inning unscathed. However with two outs, he left a pitch up in the zone to Marcell Ozuna, who belted a two-run double off the left-centerfield wall.

The two runs would hold up.

Miami starter Ricky Nolasco was masterful on the mound, striking out 11 batters over eight-plus innings, and the Marlins went on to a 2-1 victory over the D-backs.

For Arizona, the loss put an end to a five-game road win streak and kept Kirk Gibson and Co. from recording their third three-game sweep away from Chase Field in 2013.

The Good

While Miley recorded his second straight loss, the D-backs left-hander rebounded nicely from his performance Monday. In six innings, he gave up two earned runs on five hits, but struck out five and only walked one batter.

The D-backs remain the only team in baseball not to be shut out in 2013 thanks in part to a furious rally in the ninth inning.

Arizona sent seven batters to the plate, forced Miami to use three different pitchers and cut the deficit in half on a sacrifice fly by Jason Kubel.

Despite the comeback effort, the Marlins finally shut the door after reliever Mike Dunn got pinch-hitter A.J. Pollock to ground out on the eighth pitch of his at-bat.

The Bad

Following their offensive explosion Friday night (10 runs and three home runs), the D-backs went cold during the final two games over their series at Marlins Park.

Outside of Gerardo Parra’s leadoff home run Saturday night and Kubel’s sacrifice fly in the ninth Sunday, the D-backs went 16 straight innings without scoring a run.

Arizona scored only one run in three of its six games this week.

Noted

• Ricky Nolasco’s 11 strikeouts were the most he’s thrown since May 6, 2011.

• For Mike Redmond and Co., the win snapped a seven-game losing streak.

• The D-backs moved to 5-2 in road series finales in 2013.

• Paul Goldschmidt has at least one hit in each of his last seven starts.

Up Next

The D-backs will fly to the Mile High City for a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies. Left-hander Patrick Corbin (6-0, 1.52 ERA) will get the start for the D-backs Monday night. He will be opposed by former D-back Jon Garland (3-4, 4.89 ERA). First pitch is set for 5:10 p.m. and can be heard on Arizona Sports 620.