ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

D-backs fail to get big hit, bullpen struggles again in loss to Braves

May 11, 2019, 9:55 PM
Atlanta Braves pitcher Jonny Venters and catcher Brian McCann celebrate after defeating the Arizona...
Atlanta Braves pitcher Jonny Venters and catcher Brian McCann celebrate after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

PHOENIX — On Star Wars Night, you do or do not. There is no try. And the D-backs did not despite coming close, as they dropped their second straight game of their four-game series with the Atlanta Braves, 6-4.

Wilmer Flores went 3-4 with a run scored and David Peralta added two hits and a run, but the offense failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities with men on base.

Arizona finished just 2-10 with runners in scoring position.

“I thought early on we got outside of our approach and typically something that we’re very good at and have been good at, situational hitting, we came out of our game plan and just weren’t patient enough,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said after the game.

The Braves scored first when second baseman Ozzie Albies brought home Ender Inciarte with a single off D-backs starting pitcher Merrill Kelly in the second inning.

Kelly found himself in trouble again in the third after an RBI single by Josh Donaldson increased the lead to two runs.

The D-backs then managed to load the bases twice but were unable to convert the opportunities into big innings. After failing to score a run with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth, Nick Ahmed brough home the team’s first run of the game with a sac fly that plated Peralta.

The Braves, however, seemed to have an offensive rebuttal for every D-backs run. Brian McCann immediately added a solo home run off Kelly in the seventh inning to put Atlanta back up by two.

Despite not having his best stuff, Kelly battled and gave the D-backs an opportunity to stay in the game. He went seven innings, allowing eight hits and three runs earned with five strikeouts and no walks.

“Merrill threw the ball extremely well,” said Lovullo. “He went as far as he could for as long as he could.

“I just thought he made a tiny mistake to McCann, who nicked him up for that solo home run. But he did a really good job of battling all night long and making pitches.”

The D-backs struck back in the bottom of the seventh when Adam Jones came in for Kelly and hit a solo pinch-hit home run — the second of his career — to bring Arizona within one.

But the Braves once again had an answer, scoring two runs off an ineffective Archie Bradley in the eighth inning. The D-backs added two more of their own in the bottom of the inning in the form of a Blake Swihart two-run home run, his second of the season.

A Johan Camargo pinch-hit home run in the top of the ninth inning pushed Atlanta’s lead to two and the D-backs couldn’t counter in their final at-bats.

Atlanta Braves left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. makes a sliding catch for an out on a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte in the fifth inning during a baseball game, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Wilmer Flores, top, makes an out against Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) in the third inning during a baseball game, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Atlanta Braves' Dansby Swanson, right, scores a run in front of Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Alex Avila in the third inning during a baseball game, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies scores a run on a single by Ender Inciarte in the second inning during a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. hits against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning during a baseball game, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly throws in the first inning during a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Atlanta Braves pitcher Kevin Gausman throws in the first inning during a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Diamondbacks

Munetaka Murakami #55 of Team Japan celebrates after hitting a two-run double to defeat Team Mexico...
Associated Press

Japan walks off Mexico to set up World Baseball Classic final vs. USA

Shohei Ohtani sparked a ninth-inning rally as Japan walked off Mexico 6-5 to advance to the World Baseball Classic final against Team USA.
1 day ago
Tommy Henry #47 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning of the game against the...
Arizona Sports

LHP Henry optioned as D-backs key in on final starting candidates

The Diamondbacks optioned Tommy Henry to Triple-A on Monday, whittling down their options to cement the backend of their starting rotation.
1 day ago
Starting pitcher Merrill Kelly #29 of Team USA throws a warm-up pitch during the first inning of th...
Alex Weiner

D-backs’ Merrill Kelly set up to start World Baseball Classic final for Team USA

Team USA "looks like" it will turn to Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday. 
1 day ago
Paul Goldschmidt #46 of Team USA celebrates with Moookie Betts #3 after hitting a two-run home run ...
Associated Press

Turner, Goldschmidt lead Team USA to WBC final with win vs. Cuba

Defending champion United States romped over Cuba 14-2 on Sunday night to reach its second straight World Baseball Classic final.
2 days ago
David Peralta #6 and Eduardo Escobar #5 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate after scoring on a si...
Haboob Blog

Former D-backs OF David Peralta rekindles Eduardo Escobar’s cat fear with Team Venezuela

David Peralta had some fun with Eduardo Escobar's fear of cats when they were teammates with the Diamondbacks.
1 day ago
Brandon Pfaadt #90 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches in the second inning against the Cincinnati ...
Kellan Olson

Diamondbacks reassign Brandon Pfaadt, send Seth Beer to Triple-A

The Arizona Diamondbacks made 11 roster moves on Sunday that cut their spring training roster down to 40.
2 days ago
D-backs fail to get big hit, bullpen struggles again in loss to Braves