D-backs prospect Archie Bradley struggles in latest start
Apr 17, 2014, 3:54 PM | Updated: 4:02 pm
For those who were vociferously calling for the Arizona Diamondbacks to call up prized prospect Archie Bradley from the minor leagues, a word of advice.
Chill.
Bradley was touched up for four runs on seven hits in just 4.1 innings of work in his latest start Wednesday night — a 4-2 loss to the Las Vegas 51s. He also walked two, threw two wild pitches and hit two batters while seeing his ERA rise to 3.31 on the season.
Bradley got into a spot of trouble in the second when he allowed back-to-back one-out singles to Zach Lutz and Matt den Dekker before uncorking a wild pitch that allowed the runners to move up to 2nd and 3rd. Right fielder Cesar Puello followed with an RBI single to right, scoring Lutz and giving Las Vegas a 1-0 lead.
The trouble continued in the third, when Bradley (1-2) walked leadoff hitter Eric Campbell and then plunked Wilmer Flores and threw a second wild pitch while facing Allan Dykstra, moving the runners up 90 feet each. Dykstra singled to center, scoring two runs — although Dykstra was thrown out at second on the play.
After a visit on the mound, Bradley settled down a bit, retiring the next six hitters he faced. But with one out in the fifth, Flores singled and was knocked in on an RBI double by Dykstra to make it 4-1. Bradley then hit Lutz with a pitch and was lifted for reliever Derek Eitel with one out in the fourth inning.
