D-backs’ offense not enough to overcome Nuno’s start vs. Padres: By The Numbers

Three batters had strong games for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the team scored more runs Friday than it did in its most recent three-games series, but that wasn’t enough to overcome a rough start by pitcher Vidal Nuno.

The Diamondbacks left-hander had been pitching quite well for nearly a month — although he has yet to record a win in the National League — but that streak came to an end at Chase Field against the San Diego Padres.

Nuno surrendered eight hits and six earned runs (including a solo homer) while walking one in five innings of work.

Padres veteran left-hander Eric Stults didn’t fare much better, allowing seven hits and five runs (only two earned) while walking one batter in six innings. He, too, gave up a home run — a three-run shot in the fifth inning off the bat of A.J. Pollock, who had a monster game.

Pollock drove in four on the night — tying a career high — and was one of three Diamondbacks to have multiple hits, but Arizona couldn’t overcome an early hole, as the home team fell 6-5, its seventh loss in a row.

Stults came in with 16 losses on the year, but picked up his seventh win, while Nuno dropped to 0-6 since arriving in Arizona.

Here’s a look at look at Friday’s close game by the numbers:

1

Closer Addison Reed came in and worked the ninth inning, despite his team being behind on the scoreboard. Reed almost allowed the Padres to extend their lead, as the right-hander had two in scoring position via a walk, a single and a fielder’s indifference, but he struck out his second batter of the frame to end the threat.

2

Rookies Ender Inciarte and Jake Lamb were the other Diamondbacks batters to have a multi-hit game, and both had an extra-base hit — Inciarte a double, Lamb a triple (the first of his career). Both went 2-for-4 at the plate Friday and each scored a run.

3

The Diamondbacks sent up three pinch hitters against the Padres in series opener. Veteran outfielder Nolan Reimold made good on his opportunity, singling in Lamb in the fifth inning. Outfielder Alfredo Marte struck out looking in the seventh, and second baseman Aaron Hill had runners on first and third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but the veteran flied out to right field to end the game.

6

Pollock has hit safely in six of his last seven games, and he finished 3-for-4 Friday, raising his average to .324. The three-run shot to left was his seventh homer of the year, and his four RBI gave him 40 in total, which is fourth among active D-backs this season. A half-inning after his homer, he also recorded a nice outfield assist, throwing out Alexi Amarista, who was trying to stretch a single into a double.

7

The seven-game skid is the longest the Diamondbacks have had all season, topping six-game slides they had in April and August.

9

Padres catcher Rene Rivera’s fifth-inning solo shot became the ninth home run given up by Nuno since he joined the D-backs, including one in each of his last three starts. In addition to allowing six runs, Nuno only struck out two batters in five innings while throwing 77 pitches.

.200

All-Star catcher Miguel Montero is hitting .200 in the month of September after going 0-for-3 Friday with one walk. The veteran has failed to get a hit in four of his last five games, including his last three.

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