Torey Lovullo: D-backs have ‘addressed’ Yasmany Tomas’ effort after fielding gaffe
May 3, 2017, 9:46 PM | Updated: May 4, 2017, 8:09 am
It was only one play, but in what turned into a 2-1 Nationals victory over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Arizona skipper Torey Lovullo admitted Yasmany Tomas’ fielding efforts on a key third-inning play needed to be addressed.
To lead off the frame, Michael Taylor’s triple lined in front of Tomas, but the left fielder seemingly lost the ball in the lights, skidding to his bottom and failing to even knock down the ball that landed over his left shoulder.
With that, Tomas remained on his knees, head to the turf, as center fielder A.J. Pollock recovered the ball near the wall behind him.
“The part we’re going to address as quickly as possible — and we have addressed it — is that he needs to get up and chase that ball and make a little bit of a better effort,” Lovullo told the Associated Press.
Later in the inning, Taylor would score on a groundout by Washington pitcher Gio Gonzalez to tie the game, 1-1.
Tomas’ failure to attempt a recovery after making the poor play on the ball can be easily called on.
But Tomas’ struggles in the outfield have been noticeable throughout this season. A week ago, San Diego Padres batter Jabari Blash smacked a home run that snuck over the left field wall.
Tomas leapt to catch the fly ball but by jumping backward lost momentum on the way up when he ran into the Chase Field wall’s padding.
Yasmany Tomas goes all out to rob Jabari Blash on his home run😂 #Dbacks #Padres #OurSeason #MLB pic.twitter.com/XFuGn4S9Oo
— 🚨 Ronnie Laybold 🐾 (@YotesHereToStay) April 26, 2017
While his five home runs and .275/.323/.549 slash line so far this year is a solid follow-up to his 2016 season in which he led Arizona in home runs, Tomas remains the team’s worst defender with a defensive runs above replacement of minus-0.4.
ILL SNAKES
Outfielder David Peralta sat out once again as he recovers from a flu bug that has hit the Diamondbacks.
Second baseman Brandon Drury started the game but was pulled for Daniel Descalso due to what Lovullo said was the same illness.
