Day of promise for Diamondbacks turns ugly from Marte’s absence to poor pitching vs. Red Sox

The Arizona Diamondbacks started their Monday on an encouraging note, by reinstating reliever Justin Martinez and outfielder Jordan Lawlar from the injured list while they prepared for a series opener against the Boston Red Sox.

The day ended with the Diamondbacks putting up a sloppy performance in an 11-1 loss at Fenway Park, preluded by second baseman Ketel Marte getting placed on the restricted list moments before first pitch as a no-show. The reason for Marte’s absence was not immediately clear — manager Torey Lovullo told reporters it was due to personal reasons — but his status becomes the most pressing issue facing the team.

Nothing went right during the game itself, as Mitch Bratt’s start lasted three innings (three earned runs and three walks), and two Diamondbacks errors in the outfield helped the Red Sox take a 7-0 lead in the fifth. Corbin Carroll dropped a fly ball in right field, and Ryan Waldschmidt had trouble multiple times handling the ball in left.

Reliever Zack Littell ate 3.2 innings, but he let in eight runs (six earned). The Red Sox sprayed the ball all over the yard — all nine starters recorded an RBI — and defended excellently on the other side.

By the eighth inning, infielder Ildemaro Vargas was pitching, and Lawlar came in from center field to play second base for his first inning of infield in a game this season. Vargas’ scoreless eighth inning was the cleanest frame of the game for D-backs pitching, which finished with no strikeouts!

The Diamondbacks already went into the game short-handed with Nolan Arenado out of the lineup — he exited Sunday’s game with left trunk discomfort. With Marte not arriving at Fenway Park, the D-backs did not release their lineup until eight minutes before first pitch, throwing the game plan for a loop.

Instead of building off a series win in Atlanta with two potentially significant reinforcements back in the fold, the Diamondbacks will have to regroup following a rough evening with more uncertainty around one of their star players.

At least the San Diego Padres lost to the New York Mets, so the D-backs (66-60) remain one game behind the third National League Wild Card spot.

How did Jordan Lawlar do in his return?

It looked like Lawlar had a single in his first at-bat since June 19, but Red Sox shortstop Andruw Monasterio made a spinning throw to rob Lawlar of a base hit.

Lawlar ended up going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

The D-backs as a team recorded four hits, two from Tim Tawa and another from Gabriel Moreno, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Tuesday probable starters

RHP Merrill Kelly (8-10, 5.11) vs. LHP Ranger Suarez (4-3, 3.25)

First pitch is at 4:10 p.m. MST on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

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