Weaver throws 2 perfect innings in 1st outing since May 26 in D-backs win
Sep 21, 2019, 6:37 PM | Updated: 11:15 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Luke Weaver throws to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game in San Diego, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
(AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Luke Weaver got the start for the D-backs in Saturday night’s 4-2 win over the Padres in San Diego.
It was Weaver’s first appearance for Arizona since May 26.
The right-hander was reinstated earlier on Saturday after being on the 60-day injured list due to mild sprains to his flexor pronator and UCL in his throwing arm.
Weaver got off to a fast start both in the box score and on the radar gun, hitting 96 MPH with his fastball.
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The 26-year-old pitched a perfect two innings and struck out one on only 19 pitches, 13 of which were strikes.
Weaver was expected to only throw 30-35 pitches in the outing.
He left the game with a 1-0 lead, but wasn’t eligible for the win because he didn’t reach the five-innings pitched mark.
It was a great showing from Weaver and gave D-backs fans a reason to believe that he can be a vital part of Arizona’s starting rotation next season.
Welcome back, @Dreamweava7!
2 shutout innings from the righty in his first start since May 26. pic.twitter.com/mcTnORDH15
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 22, 2019
The lead came via Domingo Leyba’s RBI sac-fly in the top of the first that scored Abraham Almonte following his leadoff triple.
San Diego would get one back in the bottom of the fifth on a Hunter Renfroe solo home run.
But the D-backs would get that run back and then some in the sixth and eighth innings.
Eduardo Escobar had a pair of RBI at-bats, while Leyba would join him as the team’s RBI leaders on the day with two apiece.
The Padres would make it interesting in the bottom of the eighth, scoring one run and loading the bases with two outs.
But Archie Bradley was able to come on and get out of the jam by striking out Francisco Mejia on three pitches for the final out of the inning.
Bradley would also go on to close the game out to get the save, his 16th of the year.
The D-backs’ record improves to 80-75, but they still remain five games out of the second NL Wild Card spot with seven games to go in the 2019 season.
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