D-backs’ rotation produces mixed results during first turn of the 2014 season

Apr 4, 2014, 11:32 PM | Updated: 11:38 pm

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ starting rotation entered the 2014 campaign with very little fanfare given Patrick Corbin’s season-ending elbow injury and Archie Bradley’s reassignment to Triple-A Reno.

One turn through, it’s safe to say the unit didn’t exactly inspire a ton of newfound hope with mixed results in Arizona’s 1-6 start.

Here’s a look back at each starting pitcher’s early-season performance(s):

Brandon McCarthy:

McCarthy became the ninth different D-back to start a home opener, but the night was nothing to write home about.

After striking out the side in the top of the first, McCarthy gave up five runs on six hits over the next 5.2 innings of work.

While he left with a 7-5 lead in the top of the seventh, Oliver Perez and Brad Ziegler couldn’t hold it, as Arizona eventually fell by a final of 9-8.

Trevor Cahill:

Cahill began the 2014 season much the same way he did during his previous two in Arizona.

The Los Angeles Dodgers battered the 28-year-old during the second game of their two-game series at the Sydney Cricket Ground to the tune of five runs on eight hits in the first four innings of the contest.

Cahill also walked four in what turned out to be a 7-5 loss.

The third-year D-back turned in a much better outing at Chase Field Tuesday against the Giants. He allowed just two runs in six innings, however his quality outing wasn’t nearly enough. Tim Hudson’s seven shutout innings propelled San Francisco to a 2-0 victory.

Wade Miley:

Arizona’s de facto Opening Day starter pitched rather well in the team’s 3-1 loss to the Dodgers on March 22.

Outside of allowing a two-run home run to Scott Van Slyke in the fourth, Miley was virtually unhittable over his five innings of work.

The 27-year-old’s second start of 2014 got off to a rather inauspicious start against San Franciso Wednesday, highlighted by a Buster Posey RBI single and three-run shot by Brandon Belt.

From there, Miley settled down retiring 15 straight batters from the second to the middle of the sixth inning.

The D-backs took the contest 5-4 for their first and only win of the young season.

Bronson Arroyo:

While the 14-year veteran continued his ironman streak of never missing a start, his first in a D-backs uniform wasn’t particularly good.

Arroyo, who signed a two-year, $23.5 million deal with the D-backs in February, labored through his 4.1 innings of work, allowing two runs on five hits in the process.

The 37-year-old also walked two during his 81-pitch appearance and was bailed out by Perez with a runner on second when he exited in the top of the fifth.

Although Arroyo didn’t factor in the final decision, the D-backs dropped the afternoon affair 8-5 after the bullpen allowed five runs in the eighth.

Randall Delgado:

The decision to send Bradley to Reno opened the door for Delgado to begin the season as Arizona’s fifth starter, but he didn’t quite run through it during his start at Coors Field Friday.

Delgado, who spent time as both a starter and reliever for the D-backs in 2013, lasted only four innings in a 12-2 loss to the Rockies. In those four innings, he threw 99 pitches and allowed six runs on 10 hits.