Luke Weaver, D-backs roughed up by Marlins in 2nd straight loss
May 5, 2021, 7:50 PM | Updated: May 6, 2021, 8:17 am
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Luke Weaver (24) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The Arizona Diamondbacks were steamrolled by the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, falling 8-0 and dropping their second straight.
It was a rough start for pitcher Luke Weaver, who allowed six runs on six hits through the first two innings.
“The last couple outings just feel like there’s something that’s getting in the way of some success and it’s very minor,” Weaver said via Zoom postgame. “It’s something that we search for without trying to tweak too many things, whether it’s a mindset, whether it’s a mechanical adjustment.”
“The first two innings, I can’t explain it. It’s something I’ll continue to push and work on in these days in between and get it right for the next time,” he added.
The 27-year-old has seen continued struggles recently and has pitched into five innings only once over his last four starts. Manager Torey Lovullo used one word to describe Weaver’s start against the Marlins: Inconsistent.
“The flow of the game was very erratic. The first two innings were very long,” Lovullo said. “I don’t think he had his best stuff until about pitch 45 or pitch 50. We’ve got to figure out a way to make that happen earlier.”
After throwing 59 pitches through the first two innings, Weaver appeared to settle in by the third and posted a 10-pitch 1-2-3 frame.
The righty followed it up with another three out inning for the fourth to end the night with 81 pitches, two walks and six strikeouts, but the damage was already done. He left the mound frustrated with his performance and looking for ways to shake it off and improve.
“It’s just beyond frustrating, but there’s still a lot of confidence,” Weaver said. “There’s nothing that’s wavering, I’m not feeling down on myself. I feel motivated more than ever and will continue to be motivated.”
The D-backs managed just five hits across the game, but the batters were left stranded and Arizona was unable to put up any runs. Nick Ahmed went 2-for-3 on the night with back-to-back singles in the fifth and sixth.
“Falling behind early put a little extra pressure on us,” Lovullo said. “I felt like we were scratching and clawing to put some runners on base, just couldn’t get a big hit to put a point or two up there and just start closing that gap.”
The bullpen was also unable to stymie the Marlins’ bats from adding any more runs to the scoreboard. Miami scored two more insurance runs in the seventh against Joakim Soria, who pitched for the first time since suffering a left calf injury in April.
Matt Peacock was the lone bright spot on the mound as he retired all six batters he faced in the fifth and sixth after relieving Weaver.
UP NEXT
The D-backs close out the series against the Marlins with Madison Bumgarner on the mound Thursday. First pitch is slated for 3:40 p.m. Listen live on ESPN 620 AM.
