Souza exits game, new D-backs lineup fails to produce in loss to Mets
May 18, 2018, 7:21 PM | Updated: May 19, 2018, 8:08 am
Arizona Diamondbacks' Steven Souza Jr. pulls off his batting helmet after striking out against the New York Mets during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 18, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
The Arizona Diamondbacks got great news on Friday with the return of third baseman Jake Lamb from a shoulder injury.
The start of the series against the New York Mets on the road would mark the first time this season Lamb, Paul Goldschmidt and Steven Souza Jr. were in the same lineup together.
Still without A.J. Pollock due to a broken left thumb, the D-backs rolled out Souza hitting second followed by Lamb in the three-hole and Goldschmidt batting cleanup.
Against Mets All-Star right-hander Jacob deGrom, it was not a good day.
The trio combined for two hits in 11 at-bats and all nine outs were strikeouts.
The hits from Souza and Lamb did result in Arizona’s lone run in a 3-1 loss at Citi Field.
In the top of the sixth, Souza singled and Lamb doubled in the next at-bat. Souza scored, but Lamb was out trying to get to third.
Jake Lamb's first hit since April 2 drives in Souza and gets the @Dbacks on the board. More work to do, though.
Catch the game on FSAZ and #FSGO: https://t.co/LKt5rOzcXS pic.twitter.com/wEf9XR8F35
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) May 19, 2018
That didn’t matter much with the way Goldschmidt was seeing the ball, as the worst slump of his career continues. Goldschmidt struck out in all four of his at-bats and is now hitting .203 this season.
On top of that, the second game for the trio together could potentially be delayed.
Souza was removed from the game due to right pectoral soreness, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said after the game to reporters. Souza attempted a sliding catch in right field and slid into a wall near the right field foul-line. He was replaced by Chris Owings.
That’s the same right pectoral that caused Souza to miss the start of the season. He will have an MRI on Saturday.
It was a bit messy for D-backs starter Zack Godley, but he put his team in a position to win after six innings, giving up three runs (one earned), four hits and four walks while striking out six.
Elsewhere, the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 6-1 on Friday night, shrinking the D-backs’ lead in the National League West to a half-game.
