Diamondbacks blow early lead, fall in extras to New York Mets
May 7, 2021, 9:10 PM | Updated: 9:12 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Josh Rojas hits a single off New York Mets relief pitcher Robert Gsellman during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 7, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
(AP Photo/John Minchillo)
The Arizona Diamondbacks jumped out — or should we say walked out — to an early lead Friday against the New York Mets, but ultimately fell 5-4 in extras.
It started out well for the D-backs in the second inning after two singles and a walk loaded the bases as Tim Locastro stepped up to the plate. The outfielder did what he’s widely known for: was hit by a pitch, bringing in a run for Arizona.
Mets starter David Peterson struggled to find the strike zone and issued two more walks, equalling two more D-backs’ runs, before he was relieved by Robert Gsellman, who finished out the inning.
David Peterson can't find the strike zone and it has led to 3 runs for the D-backs.
The NY fans are letting him hear it. pic.twitter.com/7f2FE55ND6
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BallySportSAZ) May 7, 2021
With the bases loaded again in the third, Asdrubal Cabrera scored to pad the D-backs’ lead. However, a home run by Mets’ Francisco Lindor tied things up in the eighth and a bases-loaded fielder’s choice gave New York the walk-off victory in the 10th inning.
“I feel like we controlled this game for most of the innings. Unfortunately, we didn’t play a complete game,” Lovullo said via Zoom. “There were some things that slipped away from us. Lack of execution at certain times, at certain crucial moments led us down this road.
“I’m proud of a lot of the things that we did and we’re going to focus on those to guide us into tomorrow.”
The good things include Josh Rojas, who stayed hot at the plate to go 3-for-5 on the night. Over his last seven games, Rojas is batting .429 with two doubles, four home runs and six RBIs.
Ahead of their current road trip, the D-backs had won 10 of their last 14 games. Now, the team has lost four straight and have two more to finish out the trip before heading home.
Shortstop Nick Ahmed said the D-backs will hopefully shake it off tomorrow and continue to focus on getting good at-bats.
“Just have to execute the plan you want to execute and eventually it will start happening in our favor again,” he said. “Take a deep breath, relax, try to trust the guy behind you. … Collectively, it’s just having a good at-bat and doing the best you can in the moment, taking a deep breath and not trying to do too much.”
Zac Gallen was effective on the mound, rebounding from his last outing where he gave up four runs. This time around, Gallen allowed two runs (one earned), four hits and struck out five across six innings of work.
“Zac, I thought, was fantastic,” Lovullo said. “He gave us six real good innings. He seemed like he was in control of his outing from start to finish. There were a couple little hiccups there, just control in the zone…”
While Gallen agreed his outing was OK, he was unhappy with surrendering four walks to the Mets.
“I felt OK for the most part,” the pitcher said postgame. “Those walks were just weird. It wasn’t even a lack of command, it was just maybe not keeping the foot on the pedal with two outs.
“Falling behind on the count and having to try to make a good pitch, then it gets to 3-0 and it is what it is. But I thought for the most part, command was OK.”
UP NEXT
The D-backs face the Mets for the second matchup of the three-game series with Merrill Kelly getting the start.
First pitch is at 4:10 p.m. Catch all the action on 98.7 FM, Arizona’s Sports Station.
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