D-backs’ Luke Weaver struggles through 4 innings in loss to Nationals
Apr 17, 2021, 3:57 PM | Updated: 4:11 pm
Luke Weaver #24 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches to a Washington Nationals batter in the second inning at Nationals Park on April 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
It was a rough day on the mound for Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Luke Weaver against the Washington Nationals.
The 27-year-old pitcher couldn’t carry momentum from his last game, seven innings of shutout baseball against the Cincinnati Reds. On Saturday, Weaver only got through four innings as he gave up four runs in the 6-4 D-backs loss.
Nationals catcher Yan Gomes hit a solo home run in the second inning, and then Washington tallied three more in the fourth.
“That’s the way baseball goes sometimes. A rally on their side just continues to take momentum. And they took advantage of it,” Weaver said in a Zoom press conference after the game.
Despite the four earned runs and nine hits allowed, Weaver said he saw some positives in his performance.
“I thought I made some pretty big pitches when I needed to. There was probably a few that weren’t executed very well, but they were minimal damage,” he said.
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Like Friday night, the Diamondbacks offense couldn’t provide any support. They recorded just six hits, only one of which came in the bottom four innings. Washington pitcher Erick Fedde allowed one run and struck out nine through five innings, and the only hit Arizona could get off the bullpen was a sixth-inning home run off the bat of Eduardo Escobar.
After hitting a home run in four games in a row from April 8-11, Escobar now has two more in his last three games.
Tim Locastro’s record streak of 29 straight stolen bases to start a career came to a close in the third inning when he was thrown out going for second. More importantly than the streak, though, was that he dislocated his left pinky finger and is expected to head to the injured list.
“Saw it was not facing the right way,” Locastro said. “Looked down again and got worried and saw some blood.”
The 28-year-old received four stitches. The finger was straightened and placed into a splint.
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With back-to-back losses, the D-backs will look to split the four-game series with the finale against Washington on Sunday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 10:05 a.m.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
