ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

D-backs’ Shelby Miller finds a groove back in big leagues in loss

Aug 31, 2016, 5:58 PM

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Shelby Miller throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

SAN FRANCISCO – Shelby Miller soaked it all in as he returned to the bigleagues at last, cherishing pitching in front of a sellout crowd in the rival’shome ballpark after more than a month of making adjustments in the minors.

Miller still has some work to do going deeper into games. Yet this was a decentstart to getting back to where he believes he belongs, and the right-hander wasunflappable after falling behind in the first inning — something that before he admits might have thrown off his entire day.

Miller (2-10) was called up from Triple-A Reno and took the loss for Arizona in a 4-2 defeat to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. Pitching in the majors for the first time since July 6 and then being sent down on July 14, the 15-game winner with St. Louis in 2013 allowed two runs and six hits in six innings.

“It seems like when it rains it pours sometimes, the biggest thing you can do is just kind of block that out and realize you can either let that affect you, think the worst is happening and that this is going to continue, and that’s when things go downhill,” the 25-year-old Miller said. “The biggest thing is to try to eliminate it, those things are going to happen, and get on with your game.”

Matt Moore (2-3) struck out seven over 5 1-3 innings for his first career victory at AT&T Park. He gave up one run and five hits in his first game since losing a no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. He was backed by a sensational running catch on Paul Goldschmidt’s sixth-inning drive from center fielder Gorkys Hernandez, who crashed into the wall to make the play.

Manager Bruce Bochy was careful not to overwork Moore, who was done at 92 pitches after throwing 133 during the no-hit try at Los Angeles.

Buster Posey drove in two runs for San Francisco, which is in second place in the NL West behind the Dodgers.

Santiago Casilla relieved Sergio Romo with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth and struck out Yasmany Tomas. Casilla finished for his 29th save, giving up Jake Lamb’s two-out homer in the ninth.

“I felt good mechanically, kind of a little jittery there in the first inning, just getting back in that atmosphere, which is always so much fun to be a part of games where fans are there,” Miller said of big league crowds.

Posey doubled home a run in the first. Hunter Pence added an RBI single later that inning in his second game back after missing three with a strained right hamstring.

Angel Pagan had an RBI double in the seventh and Posey hit a sacrifice fly as the Giants added insurance.

San Francisco third baseman Eduardo Nunez got hit by Miller’s 91 mph fastball in the left ribcage area but stayed in the game in the bottom of the sixth after an athletic trainer and Bochy checked on him. He is expected to be fine to play Thursday.

Arizona dropped just its fifth game in the last 16 at AT&T Park.

FOR THE BIRDS

A few pigeons camped out a few feet in front of the batter’s box in fair territory and never went away even as some players and coaches tried to shoo them.

“I was amazed, first of all that they didn’t move,” Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. “They weren’t scared of anything, and a couple of times when the ball was put in play, it didn’t bother the fielders. So it was pretty
impressive.

“We don’t really work on that in spring training.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Arizona optioned RHP Vicente Campos to Reno to make room for Miller’s return to the rotation.

Giants: CF Denard Span was out of the lineup after leaving Tuesday night’s loss in the seventh inning with a stiff neck. … RHP Jake Peavy was still sore a day after receiving several shots of cortisone in his back.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray (7-12, 4.28 ERA) pitches against Colorado at Coors Field having gone 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA with 29 strikeouts and seven walks in his last four starts.

Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (11-9, 4.00) pitches the opener Thursday against his former Cubs team in Chicago for the highly anticipated four-game series against the NL Central leaders. “It’s critical. I don’t know if it’s quite make-or-break,” Bochy said.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Blake Snell...

Associated Press

Blake Snell and San Francisco Giants agree to $62 million, 2-year contract, AP source says

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $62 million, two-year contract.

7 hours ago

Zac Gallen...

Damon Allred

Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen named Opening Day starter

The Arizona Diamondbacks named Zac Gallen the starter for Opening Day on March 28 when the Colorado Rockies come to Chase Field.

8 hours ago

Merrill Kelly...

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen building strong outings with Opening Day near

Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly followed Zac Gallen's scoreless outing Sunday with one of his own Monday against the Athletics.

10 hours ago

Alek Thomas, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder...

Kevin Zimmerman

D-backs’ Alek Thomas found confidence with just 2 swings in 2023 playoffs

Two Alek Thomas home runs during the 2023 playoff run for the Arizona Diamondbacks helped build his confidence. You can guess one of them.

13 hours ago

Alek Thomas...

Alex Weiner

NL West preview: Where do the Diamondbacks fit in a new-look division?

No division was more prevalent in the news cycle than the NL West. Here's a preview of the Dodgers, D-backs, Giants, Padres and Giants.

17 hours ago

Corbin Martin...

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks option RHPs Corbin Martin, Slade Cecconi in final week of spring training

The Diamondbacks continued to clear up roster battles by optioning pitchers Corbin Martin, Slade Cecconi and Blake Walston Triple-A.

18 hours ago

D-backs’ Shelby Miller finds a groove back in big leagues in loss