D-backs’ Trevor Cahill struggles in loss to Detroit Tigers

PHOENIX — Trevor Cahill’s first start upon his return to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ rotation wasn’t bad.

He can’t say the same about his second, though it wasn’t entirely his fault, either.

Cahill lasted just four innings in Arizona’s 11-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, allowing seven runs — three earned — on eight hits while striking out three and walking none.

“For the most part I felt pretty good, I just left some pitches up and a team like that is going to hurt you,” Cahill said after the game.

The outing would likely have gone much better had Aaron Hill not misplayed Andrew Romine’s ground ball in the fourth. That mistake led to four unearned runs, and the end result was Cahill’s removal from the game after throwing just 75 pitches.

“We made a mistake behind him,” D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. “That whole inning started, I think he had (Victor Martinez) 0-2 and Hilly had the error, and he didn’t pick him up. He didn’t walk anybody today, but when we needed him to make pitches he was missing his spots.”

The skipper pointed to multiple instances where Cahill was ahead in the count but unable to execute and get the out, and ultimately that cost him and the team.

Gibson said every pitcher will occasionally have a pitch get too much of the plate, but added Cahill needs to be more consistent with his location.

“Just keeping the ball down and letting my stuff work,” Cahill said of what needs to happen. “I think maybe I was trying too much not to walk guys and had my sights a little bit up, and maybe that’s why I was kind of leaving it up a little bit.”

The loss dropped Cahill’s record to 1-7 on the season. In two starts since returning to the D-backs after a stint in the minors, the right-hander has allowed 10 runs — six earned — on 12 hits with two walks in nine innings.

It’s not exactly the kind of production the team was hoping to get out of the 26-year-old after bringing him back, though Cahill said he’s not focused on what kind of margin for error he may or may not have.

“I’m just going out there doing the best I can trying to give the team a chance to win, and whatever happens, happens,” he said.

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