D-backs’ Walker sustains hit to face after errant throw in loss to Padres
Apr 3, 2021, 7:23 PM | Updated: Apr 4, 2021, 4:09 pm
San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. runs past Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 3, 2021, in San Diego. Walker was hit by the ball. Tatis advanced to second base. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
(AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
It was a rough night not only for first baseman Christian Walker, but the D-backs team as a whole after falling 7-0 to the San Diego Padres on Saturday.
Walker left the game during bottom of the fourth inning after getting hit by a baseball under his left eye.
Second baseman Josh Rojas was fielding a ball hit by Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr., when it went awry, bounced and caught Walker in the face, leaving a cut and his eye bruised and swollen.
Walker left the field after being attended to by trainers and staff. Manager Torey Lovullo said postgame that the first baseman will be day-to-day going forward.
“You see that there’s a contusion, there’s bones in there. He’s had a situation with certain bones in his face in this area, I can’t remember exactly where … It was out of fairness to him, I thought we’ve got to get him off the field and get him evaluated and make sure he’s OK,” Lovullo said.
Ouch 😔
Christian Walker is leaving the game after getting hit under the eye with an errant throw. pic.twitter.com/NaP9vk7chZ
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BallySportSAZ) April 4, 2021
Pavin Smith was moved to first base to cover Walker’s position, while Tim Locastro came into the game at right field.
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In his first start of the season, pitcher Caleb Smith struggled through three innings of work. He gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits and walked three. He was replaced in the fourth by Riley Smith, who then gave up three more runs.
The D-backs’ bats weren’t any help for the pitching squad, as the team only recorded four hits on the night, two of which came from Ketel Marte.
“It wasn’t my favorite brand of baseball today,” Lovullo said. “I think we struggled in several areas and we obviously gotta tighten that up. … Overall it was a clunker and we’ve got to get better.”
Meanwhile, No. 3 prospect and recent call up Geraldo Perdomo made his debut in the eighth inning, taking over shortstop for Rojas who moved to right field. The 21-year-old struck out in his first and only at-bat.
The D-backs will look for their first win of the season Sunday when they close out the series against the Padres. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m.
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