D-backs leave runners on, bullpen struggles in loss to Giants

PHOENIX — Some may have predicted that a Diamondbacks-Giants game on Thursday featuring Zack Greinke and Madison Bumgarner would be a close, low-scoring contest.

During the time the two were still in the game, it was that. But maybe it shouldn’t have been.

Either Bumgarner deserves credit for getting out of jams, or the D-backs shoulder the fault for not fully capitalizing on two bases-loaded opportunities and their leaving 12 runners on base.

Whichever the case, the D-backs’ struggles at the plate were compounded by a bullpen that gave up six runs in three innings (albeit with an erroneous umpiring situation), and Arizona lost, 8-1.

“The first three innings for me, maybe even the first four innings, there was a ton of traffic out there,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We had some situations with runners at third base and less than two outs and couldn’t execute, A., and then we had a ton of traffic out there with two outs and couldn’t get the big hit.”

Bumgarner, a four-time All-Star and former World Series MVP, threw 101 pitches in only five innings, allowing one run on seven hits with three walks, and at one point committed a balk to allow Nick Ahmed to advance to second base. He got the win nonetheless.

“I think Bumgarner, he went out there an executed and got outs and he’s done that his whole career,” Lovullo said.

Greinke, who was named NL Pitcher of the Month for July on Thursday, allowed a solo home run to Evan Longoria in the first inning before settling down to retire 11 of the next 12 hitters he’d face. He gave up another run in the fifth inning, that time on a pair of doubles (the second by Bumgarner for his 56th career RBI), but that was all the Giants would get off of him.

Greinke’s line finished at 6.0 innings pitched, two runs on four hits, one walk and five strikeouts.

“It wasn’t easy by any means today, just a lot of tougher situations and at-bats,” Greinke said, noting that Thursday was only the second time he’d faced the Giants this season.

Once the bullpens took over for each team, the D-backs found themselves in a deeper hole.

Arizona reliever Jake Diekman, acquired on trade deadline day on Tuesday, faced only three hitters in his D-backs debut, committed an error, walked two, tossed a wild pitch and was charged with an unearned run. Brad Ziegler then made his (second) D-backs debut, pitching parts of the seventh and eighth innings and allowing four runs on three hits, a walk and a strikeout.

The Giants didn’t give a warm welcome for either of the two newest Diamondbacks.

But an oddity occurred in the eighth inning. With Ziegler on the mound, Lovullo made a mound visit, during which time the Giants called upon Alen Hanson to pinch hit. According to second-base umpire and crew chief Bill Welke via a pool reporter, Lovullo asked if he could change pitchers but was told he couldn’t. That was not correct.

Welke said he told Lovullo after the game that they made a mistake, and Lovullo took it “very gracious.”

Hanson would knock an RBI single, and T.J. McFarland would take over and allow three more of Ziegler’s runners to score. That made it 7-1 Giants.

An eighth run would score for San Francisco that was charged to McFarland, and Matt Andriese would pitch a scoreless ninth.

Eduardo Escobar got the lone RBI of the game, a sac fly to center field that scored Ketel Marte.

“I thought we had plenty of opportunities early,” Lovullo said. “[Bumgarner] gave his offense a chance to catch up, catch their breath and they started to have a real nice approach and have some key at-bats down towards the end of the game and end up winning the game.”

BASE HITS

— The Dodgers walloped the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday as the D-backs lost, so Los Angeles took over sole possession of first place in the NL West. Arizona and LA entered the day tied for that spot.

— Lovullo announced third baseman Jake Lamb elected to have surgery to repair a fraying left rotator cuff. He is expected to be ready for spring training in 2019.

— Ziegler became the first Diamondbacks player to use the bullpen cart in a regular season game.

“One of the things that helps me kind of stay composed when there’s a lot of runners on base and stuff is to have a low heart rate, and so I just figured that if I could avoid jogging in then why jog in,” Ziegler said. “And especially with all the adrenaline I already had tonight, just dampen it a little bit.”

— Right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller (60-day DL, right elbow inflammation) said he is eligible to come back in September should he be fully healthy, and the primary issue right now is soreness when trying to throw a curveball.

STAT OF THE GAME

12: The number of runners left on base for the Diamondbacks

UP NEXT

Thursday’s game was the first of a seven-game homestand for the D-backs. They’ll play three more against the Giants before hosting the Phillies for three and heading back out on the road.

Fans can expect to see left-hander Patrick Corbin (7-4, 3.26 ERA) face San Francisco’s Chris Stratton (8-6, 5.14 ERA) on Friday. Corbin has already faced the Giants four times this year, pitching a complete game one-hit shutout against them on April 17 and owing a 1.69 ERA in those four outings.

Stratton has faced the D-backs twice in 2018, the Giants winning both of those games. In the two outings, he combined for 11.0 innings and allowed four runs on 12 hits and two walks.

Follow @mattjlayman