Grit Index: Diamondbacks leave 11 men on base in loss to Rockies

Sep 14, 2013, 6:37 AM | Updated: 4:13 pm

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies combined to leave 19 men on base Friday at Chase Field, but the five who crossed home plate wearing purple in the seventh inning weren’t among the stranded.

From start to finish, the three hour, 39-minute affair was chocked full of missed opportunities.

After allowing a pair of two-out hits in the first inning, Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon McCarthy’s Friday the 13th fortunes turned bad, as a low line drive off the bat of Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario eluded the glove of a diving Adam Eaton, scoring two.

But that would be all the scoring McCarthy would surrender, despite giving up eight hits in innings 2-6.

In all, 10 of the 11 hits off the right-hander came with two outs.

Offensively, it was, again, too little, too late for the Diamondbacks, who scored three of their five runs on a three-run home run off the bat of Miguel Montero in the bottom of the 9th.

Despite driving Tyler Chatwood from the game in the game in their half of the 5th, the Diamondbacks were unable to capitalize on a bases loaded opportunity as Didi Gregorius grounded out to second base with the score tied 2-2. The following inning, the squandering persisted when Tony Campana led off with a pinch hit infield single and then stole second and third base, where he would remain at inning’s end.

The Rockies’ damage came against their former teammate, Will Harris, who took the second loss of his career Friday. Harris took the mound with a 0.82 ERA over his previous 10 outings and a 1.92 ERA over his previous 20 outings, but he was touched up for four runs in the seventh, managing just one out against the top half of the Rockies order.

Tony Sipp allowed the other Rockies run in the 7th inning.

Ultimately, the story wasn’t the bullpen, though. At least not for Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson. It was the lack of offense.

“What did they walk us six times?” he asked the media after the game.

“Yeah — and with all the hits we had, we should have had a lot more runs.”

The Good:

Brandon McCarthy has a 2.10 ERA over his last four starts, allowing seven runs over 30.0 innings pitched.

The Bad:

The Diamondbacks left 11 men on base Friday, going 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position, while one of their two hits with runners on second or third didn’t even plate a run.

He Said It:

“He’s really dangerous with the ball in his hand. He’s so accurate. Earlier in his career, when he tried to do that, the ball would get away from him. But now he knows where it’s going and he’s got an electric arm.” Kirk Gibson on Gerardo Parra’s major-league leading 16th outfield assist, which came in the seventh inning, when the rightfielder gunned down the Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon at second base

Up Next:

The Diamondbacks look to even the series tomorrow as Wade Miley (9-10, 3.73 ERA) takes the ball. The southpaw has allowed only one run in 12.1 IP versus the Rockies this year. Opposing him will be the struggling, winless veteran Roy Oswalt (0-5, 8.57 ERA). First pitch will be at 5:10 p.m. MDT and can be heard on Arizona Sports 620 AM.

Sal Musto contributed to this story.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Catcher Carson Kelly #18 of the Arizona Diamondbacks prepares to take the field before the MLB game...
Tyler Drake

D-backs’ Carson Kelly dealing with forearm fracture, no timeline for return

The Arizona Diamondbacks will have to navigate the beginning of the regular season without starting catcher Carson Kelly.
2 days ago
Munetaka Murakami #55 of Team Japan celebrates after hitting a two-run double to defeat Team Mexico...
Associated Press

Japan walks off Mexico to set up World Baseball Classic final vs. USA

Shohei Ohtani sparked a ninth-inning rally as Japan walked off Mexico 6-5 to advance to the World Baseball Classic final against Team USA.
3 days ago
Tommy Henry #47 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning of the game against the...
Arizona Sports

LHP Henry optioned as D-backs key in on final starting candidates

The Diamondbacks optioned Tommy Henry to Triple-A on Monday, whittling down their options to cement the backend of their starting rotation.
3 days ago
Starting pitcher Merrill Kelly #29 of Team USA throws a warm-up pitch during the first inning of th...
Alex Weiner

D-backs’ Merrill Kelly set up to start World Baseball Classic final for Team USA

Team USA "looks like" it will turn to Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday. 
3 days ago
Paul Goldschmidt #46 of Team USA celebrates with Moookie Betts #3 after hitting a two-run home run ...
Associated Press

Turner, Goldschmidt lead Team USA to WBC final with win vs. Cuba

Defending champion United States romped over Cuba 14-2 on Sunday night to reach its second straight World Baseball Classic final.
4 days ago
David Peralta #6 and Eduardo Escobar #5 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate after scoring on a si...
Haboob Blog

Former D-backs OF David Peralta rekindles Eduardo Escobar’s cat fear with Team Venezuela

David Peralta had some fun with Eduardo Escobar's fear of cats when they were teammates with the Diamondbacks.
3 days ago
Grit Index: Diamondbacks leave 11 men on base in loss to Rockies