D-backs offense bounces back in Colorado, smashes 13 runs for win
Aug 12, 2020, 6:39 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Archie Bradley, left, celebrates with left fielder David Peralta after the team's victory over the Colorado Rockies in a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Denver. Arizona won 13-7. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have three starters with an ERA above 9.00. Their bullpen just blew a game on Tuesday and the offense got off to a horrible start.
And yet, they’ve won five of their last eight games after a 13-7 final Wednesday over the Colorado Rockies. The team is now 8-11, somehow only less than four games out of the wild card.
It’s the second series win for the D-backs, thanks in large part to the offense finally getting out of a funk. The D-backs scored 32 runs at Coors Field in three games, tying a franchise record for most runs scored in a three-game series at Colorado.
Ketel Marte, David Peralta and Christian Walker each had seven hits in the three games to combine for 21 total, along with four walks. The trio is now all hitting above .300 after they were expected to carry the offense, only to struggle out of the gates.
“When you impact baseball the way they have and you have the success, that’s what you come to be spoiled by because of what they’ve done and they give to you,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said after the game. “So when they struggle, it stands out and it’s painful.”
Starling Marte, meanwhile, is still chugging. He had three more hits on Wednesday for four RBIs to bring his average all the way up to .369.
Peralta had three RBIs on a bases-clearing double in the seventh inning, part of an eight-run inning for the D-backs.
Eduardo Escobar is the only hitter in the middle of the D-backs order still out of sorts, batting .171 on the year now.
Starting pitcher Luke Weaver was used again as an “opener” even though D-backs manager Torey Lovullo doesn’t want him labeled as such, with Arizona still using the right-hander differently coming back from an injury last year.
Weaver wasn’t all that great anyway, giving up four earned runs and seven baserunners in 3.1 innings over 67 pitches. He has now allowed 18 earned runs in 13.2 innings for an 11.85 ERA through four starts.
Weaver said after the game it’s “a gradual thing” and he was expecting to get to five innings.
The game was 1-1 through two innings and then 5-5 through five innings before that seventh inning by the D-backs.
The bullpen wasn’t perfect again. Taylor Clarke allowed an earned run in 1.2 innings while Hector Rondon sacrificed two on 0.2 innings. Closer Archie Bradley had a scoreless ninth, getting the nod with Arizona having a day off on Thursday.
UP NEXT
The D-backs return to Chase Field on Friday for a three-game series against the San Diego Padres. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. on Arizona Sports.
