Diamondbacks unload for six runs in first inning against Pirates
Jun 12, 2018, 8:21 PM | Updated: 11:27 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte watches his two-run triple during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona State alum and Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Trevor Williams had a less than stellar start to his homecoming against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, giving up five hits and six runs in the game’s first half-inning.
Outfielder Jon Jay got things going for the D-backs in his first at-bat, driving a single to left field. It was Jay’s first hit since being acquired from the Kansas City Royals on June 6.
Paul Goldschmidt followed Jay with a single of his own before Jake Lamb reached on a fielding error by Pirates first baseman Josh Bell. The error also allowed Jay to score for Arizona’s first run of the inning.
Goldschmidt was the next D-back to cross home plate thanks to a John Ryan Murphy single. Three batters later, Ketel Marte found the gap in right-center field for a two RBI triple, extending the lead to 4-0.
Williams elected to intentionally walk D-backs outfielder Jarrod Dyson, bringing up Arizona starting pitcher Clay Buchholz.
A throwing error by Williams on a pickoff attempt at first allowed Marte to score and Dyson to advance to third. But yet another throwing error, this time by Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison brought Dyson home for the D-backs’ sixth run of the inning.
Williams would end the inning by striking out Buchholz, but the damage was done.
In all, Arizona sent nine batters to the plate, with six scoring on five hits.
Arizona’s six runs were the most scored in the opening frame since recording eight runs against the San Diego Padres on May 19, 2017. It was also the eighth time in team history they scored six or more runs in the first inning at Chase Field.
The Pirates rallied in the fourth, scoring six runs of their own. But the D-backs’ offense — as it has since the start of June — had an answer.
Arizona added seven more runs throughout the game, three of which came in the form of a Jay home run in the seventh — his first in Arizona.
The D-backs went on to defeat the Pirates 13-8 for their fifth straight win.
