Andrew Young homer not enough to fuel D-backs in loss to Marlins

PHOENIX — After Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen was scratched from Wednesday’s matchup against the Miami Marlins, Matt Peacock stepped on the mound as his replacement in what would be Peacock’s first career MLB start.

Peacock spun five innings, allowed six hits and three runs (two earned) and issued three strikeouts in the D-backs’ 3-2 loss.

“Given the set of circumstances that we were dealing with today, I felt like Matt Peacock did a tremendous job at giving us five quality innings on a spot start notice,” manager Torey Lovullo said via Zoom.

Peacock has appeared in relief in eight previous games for Arizona this season, including a memorable debut in which he was the first player in almost 76 years to record both a hit and a win while making their major league debut in extra innings.

Tonight was equally memorable for the 27-year-old righty, even if he was overly “amped up,” as the pitcher put it.

“First start in the big leagues, I was a little amped up,” Peacock said. “I get a little excited, try to throw too hard, try to beat people with velo when I know my bread and butter is low 90s, keeping the ball down, beating it in the ground.”

The Marlins were hot against Peacock from the start. Jesus Aguilar scored a two-run homer in the first inning, followed by a Sandy Leon homer in the second.

However, Peacock settled in to issue only three more hits over his outing. The bullpen aided Peacock in keeping Miami at three runs.

“I was a little up those two innings,” Peacock said of his pitching. “And then found myself getting back to my roots and keeping the ball down and getting ground balls.”

Meanwhile, after breaking a six-game losing streak with two straight wins against the Marlins — one with 11 runs scored — it was a lackluster night for the D-backs’ offense that notched seven hits but could only pull in two runs.

“That’s the game of baseball,” second baseman Josh Rojas said. “I don’t think anybody changes their mindset, I don’t think anybody is feeling down. I think it’s a matter of putting the hits together.”

Rojas got things rolling and continued his now 11-game hitting streak to get on base through a single in the second. An RBI-double by David Peralta brought Rojas in for the D-backs’ first run of the night.

Utility man Andrew Young mashed a home run in the fifth inning at his first pinch-hit at-bat to shave the Marlins’ lead to one.

All Andrew Young does is hit homers! pic.twitter.com/6meaWsUTP6

— Bally Sports Arizona (@BallySportSAZ) May 13, 2021

Young, who has appeared in 12 games this season for Arizona, was called up from Triple-A on Wednesday after Christian Walker was placed on IL. Of the four hits Young has on the season, all have been home runs.

“It’s unbelievable. He’s so strong and watching his BP is unbelievable. He’s a really good hitter, but for all of them to be a homer,” Rojas said of Young. “It’s not like he’s not getting hits. It’s like every time he comes up, he’s hitting a homer.

“When you’re pinch-hitting, I don’t think there’s a better at-bat you could have other than to drive yourself in.”

UP NEXT

Merrill Kelly is set to take the mound as the D-backs look to get the series win against the Marlins on Thursday.

First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. Listen live on ESPN 620 AM.

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