D-backs offense missing key players explodes against Cubs

File Wednesday night’s offensive performance from the Arizona Diamondbacks right next to all of the most unexpected performances of the Arizona sports year.

After losing 13 of their 17 games in September, including a 9-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo responded Wednesday with his lineup sheet.

He sat key bats Paul Goldschmidt, Eduardo Escobar, A.J. Pollock and David Peralta for the matchup with the Cubs.

With the D-backs down 6.0 games in the National League West race and only 10 games left in the team’s schedule, this was assumedly a move for Arizona to get a look at some other players heading into 2019.

Lovullo denied that being the case before the game, meaning it was more of a message that the offense’s production wasn’t good enough and the D-backs were still pursuing a playoff spot.

The response, at least from the players who got the opportunity, was there.

First baseman Christian Walker hit a three-run homer in the first off Cubs starter Cole Hamels. On the next at-bat, left fielder Patrick Kivlehan tripled and after shortstop Nick Ahmed fouled out, center fielder Chris Owings singled to bring home Kivlehan and make it 4-0 D-backs.

Shockingly, the players replacing the D-backs’ three most notable hitters — Goldschmidt, Peralta, and Pollock — were responsible for three of the four runs scored and all four RBI in their first run through the order.

They weren’t done there, adding three more runs in the bottom of the sixth via an Ahmed RBI single and a two-run homer by Owings. Because of starter Robbie Ray’s fine work on the mound, it was a 7-0 lead.

Through seven innings, catcher Jeff Mathis was the only position player without a hit.

That was until Mathis homered in the eighth, scoring two runs and bringing the lead to 9-0.

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