D-backs shut out by Phillies, swept for third time in 2015: By the Numbers

Suddenly, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ new season doesn’t feel so much different than last year’s campaign.

The Diamondbacks came into Sunday’s early game in Philadelphia with two straight losses to the Phillies, but had Opening Day starter Josh Collmenter taking the mound.

Collmenter started out decently but couldn’t get any run support, and he came apart in the sixth inning, giving up three straight hits, including two for extra bases.

The veteran right-hander got out of the frame but his day was finished from there, and reliever Randall Delgado didn’t have great luck either.

Darin Ruf and Maikel Franco both hit solo homers in Philadelphia’s 6-0 win, giving the home team a three-game sweep. Four Phillies pitchers teamed up for the shutout; starter Sean O’Sullivan went six innings with five hits and two walks surrendered while striking out four, earning his first win of the season.

Collmenter fell to 3-5 as the Diamondbacks (15-21) suffered their fourth straight loss, tying their season-worst skid. Philadelphia came into the series 10 games under .500, but improved to 16-23 with the sweep; they are on a five-game winning streak overall.

The D-backs are heading to Miami for a four-game set to complete their road trip, while the Phillies are hitting the road for a four-game series in Colorado.

Here’s a look at Sunday’s shutout, by the numbers:

5

Delgado had a rocky 1.2 innings in relief of Collmenter, allowing an opponent to reach home for the fifth time this season. The reliever surrendered his fourth homer of the year and gave up three other hits and one other run in the outing while walking two and striking out three. The right-hander has given up five earned runs in his last four appearances over a total of 5.2 innings. Delgado’s ERA jumped from 2.70 to 3.44 with his latest performance.

6

Shortstop Chris Owings notched a hit in his final at-bat, finishing the day 1-for-4. He’s now on a six-game hitting streak, improving his batting average from .221 to .270 during this stretch. He’s also hit safely in nine of his last 10 appearances.

7 (part I)

Outfielder Ender Inciarte came into the series finale on a five-game hitting streak and a seven-game run of reaching base safely. Both of those streaks came to an end as he went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts, his batting average dropping to .309. The left-handed hitting Venezuelan did, however, record his fifth stolen base of the year — after grounding into a fielder’s choice in the third inning. In the outfield, Inciarte committed his second error of the year in the eighth inning, but luckily it didn’t lead to another Phillies run.

7 (part II)

Collmenter tied the team lead in home runs allowed with seven when Ruf went over the left field fence in the fourth inning. The D-backs starter has surrendered six home runs in his last three games, with 18 earned runs allowed and a 1-2 record in that span. In the latest loss, the 6-foot-4 pitcher went six innings and gave up six hits and four earned runs while striking out one.

10

The Diamondbacks left 10 runners on base in the shutout, and they were just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They recorded just three fewer hits — eight to 11 — than the Phillies did, but couldn’t translate those into any runs, suffering their fourth shutout of the season.

11/13

Second baseman Aaron Hill had another strong game, going 2-for-4 and notching his fifth double of the year. In his last 13 appearances, he has raised his batting average from .156 to .291. The veteran has reached base safely in 11 of those 13 games.

12-24

Yes, the D-backs just suffered their third sweep of the year and have lost four in a row, but they are still three games ahead of last year’s mark of 12-24 after 36 games. They also are currently a half-game ahead of the Rockies for the last spot in the National League West.

Sept. 10, 2014

Collmenter’s day wasn’t strong on many fronts, including an uncharacteristic two base on balls. He came in with just three walks on the year, and he hadn’t walked more than one in a contest since Sept. 10, 2014, in San Francisco. The 29-year-old starter also threw just 74 pitches in Philadelphia, his second straight game coming in well under 100 tosses.