D-backs nearly pick up bullpen’s collapse with 5-run 9th in loss
Aug 11, 2020, 9:45 PM | Updated: 9:46 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Starling Marte reaches first base on an infield single off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
“Sometimes I don’t know if I should laugh or if I should cry.”
That statement by Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo after Tuesday’s 8-7 loss to the Colorado Rockies could go for how the team’s season has gone thus far as well.
The last two innings were a mess on both sides, as in a 2-2 game, D-backs relievers Kevin Ginkel (four earned runs allowed) and Alex Young (two earned runs allowed) proceeded to give up six combined earned runs in the eighth inning.
Which, yes, means that Arizona nearly came all the way back off a five-run ninth inning.
“It was two completely different games played within one,” Lovullo said. “The first seven innings were pristine and awesome to watch from our standpoint … Things kind of unrivaled.”
The bullpen’s collapse hurts even more when taking into consideration that starting pitcher Zac Gallen was able to take his start through seven full innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and no walks, striking out seven.
Starling Marte had a three-hit night for the D-backs, bumping his batting average on the season to .350. His RBI single in the ninth contributed to the five runs, along with one RBI from Nick Ahmed on a single, two for Ketel Marte on a double and one more for an Eduardo Escobar single.
Charlie Blackmon’s league-leading hitting continued on Tuesday, with the outfielder picking up three hits to bring his average to .500.
The two teams combined for 27 hits.
UP NEXT
Arizona concludes the series in Colorado on Wednesday with a 12:10 p.m. first pitch you can hear on ESPN 620 AM.
