Diamondbacks swept by Padres, offense produces only 5 runs in series

No matter how you slice it, five runs for a three-game series is not going to cut it.

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ offense hit a snag in San Diego against the Padres, resulting in a sweep and 5-2 loss on Wednesday.

To be fair to the D-backs, this was theoretically the game to lose of the three. Starter Merrill Kelly couldn’t escape the second inning, lasting only 1.2 and allowing four earned runs. He gave up nine baserunners over that time and Arizona had only six total all game.

But to be fair to the bullpen, they held down the fort for the other 6.1 innings, having only one more run added to the total.

The missed opportunity was the previous two games.

When Zack Greinke went seven innings and allowed three earned runs on Tuesday, Arizona’s offense responded with only five total baserunners, all on hits like Wednesday. Which means, yes, the D-backs have gone two straight games without a walk.

Monday was a 2-1 loss, with Luke Weaver throwing six innings of two-run work. Arizona left seven runners on base, including two situations where a runner was on third, a stinger for a one-run loss.

Adam Jones and Christian Walker were the two bright spots of the D-backs’ surprise April, but the two have really cooled off as of late.

Jones didn’t play in Monday’s loss but went a combined 0-for-8 in the other two games. His batting average has dipped down to .265 after batting .286 in April.

Walker was 1-of-12 in the three games, striking out in all three and six total times. On May 5, Walker was hitting .314. Since that game, he’s 8-for-50 (.160) and is now down to .262 on the season.

That makes the status of left fielder David Peralta all the more important.

The 31-year-old is putting up All-Star numbers, slashing .309/.357/.524 with five home runs, 30 RBI and 16 doubles. But Peralta, dealing with right trap soreness from last week, exited Tuesday’s game and did not play Wednesday. Per The Athletic’s Zach Buchanan, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said if Peralta’s right shoulder is still bothering him on Thursday then he will have an MRI.

One of the few players who hasn’t been slumping is Wilmer Flores, who hit .347 in 16 games for May. But Flores was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and Lovullo said on Wednesday that Flores has a broken right foot.

Keep an eye on how Lovullo uses catcher Carson Kelly for the next handful of games. While Kelly was 1-for-5 with a walk in the series, he joins Flores as the only D-back hitting above .300 in May at .357 in 12 games prior to Wednesday’s loss.

Arizona is off on Thursday before a three-game series in San Francisco kicks off Friday.

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