Greg Holland melts down in 9th, walks 4 straight in D-backs loss
Jul 2, 2019, 10:58 PM | Updated: Jul 3, 2019, 8:03 am
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 02: Greg Holland #56 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts as he leaves the game after his bases loaded walk to Matt Beaty #45, scoring Chris Taylor #3 to tie the game 4-4, during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Oh, how the narrative of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers changed quickly.
After starter Taylor Clarke couldn’t make it out of the fourth inning in a 3-3 tie, the D-backs bullpen pitched 4.1 scoreless innings, including 2.1 from rookie Alex Young.
With Arizona adding a run in the fifth, it was a save opportunity for closer Greg Holland in the ninth.
He got the first two batters out, putting the D-backs well on their way to a hard-fought, gritty win in Los Angeles off one of the best outings of the season from the bullpen.
Instead, Holland melted down.
After getting ahead 0-2 to Chris Taylor, he threw four straight balls and walked him. Russell Martin, who entered the night 0-for-6 lifetime against Holland with four strikeouts, was also walked.
Arizona pitching coach Mike Butcher came out to attempt to settle Holland down but Holland continued to struggle finding the zone, walking Alex Verdugo on five pitches.
D-backs manager Torey Lovullo elected to let Holland try to get out of it with the bases loaded and a one-run lead. Holland, though, had clearly lost all his command and walked Matt Beaty on four pitches, scoring the game-tying run.
Lovullo then decided he had seen enough, pulling Holland for lefty T.J. McFarland.
On top of this being no simple task in keeping the game alive with the bases loaded in a tie game, McFarland had to try and get MVP favorite Cody Bellinger out.
In a 2-2 count, McFarland got erratic, missing badly on two straight pitches inside and nearly hitting Bellinger both times to seal the loss with a walk scoring the game-winning run.
The loss was Holland’s first of the season and third blown save. Tuesday’s outing makes it the second time this season Holland has allowed a run in two straight appearances.
Arizona moves to 43-44 on the season and looks to bounce back on Wednesday in LA at 7:10 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
