I won’t pretend that transitions are easy. They require psychological and emotional flexibility that can be difficult in the easiest of times – let alone areas of life or situations wherein there is significant pressure and attention paid on your every word or action. In that light, it’s not surprising to watch this D-Backs team struggle to find its footing after the roster was (rightfully) gutted in exchange for the long-term health of the franchise. But even if I can understand both the logic and the reasoning behind the moves, it doesn’t make it any easier to watch as a fan when your team continues to slide toward an ugly nadir. I’ve long tried to readjust my expectations to the “spoiler” status for the remainder of the season as any number of the promising youngsters the D-Backs acquired last week are given runways to further prove themselves. But even with that readjustment, it can be difficult to find the more positive light to view nights like tonight.
After the latest bullpen implosion doomed an otherwise excellent start from Ryne Nelson, the D-Backs turned to an unlikely source for a series-winning start in Anthony Desclafani. Making just his third start of the season, the starter-turned-reliever-turned-starter journeyman had his best performance to date as a member of the Arizona starting rotation with 4.1 IP scoreless and no walks allowed. In fact, you’d have to go back to his start against these same D-Backs last June when the journeyman (then a member of the Giants) went 6 IP and he allowed just two runs to find a better start. I remain unconvinced that DeSclafani is a long-term solution in the rotation, but if he can provide solid starts like tonight even semi consistently, then he could easily carve himself out a niche with the club.
The Arizona offensive attack can be summarized quickly: it was virtually nonexistent. In the home half of the first, Corbin Carroll belted the third pitch he saw to nearly straightaway center to stake Desclafani to an immediate lead. Then in the second, the D-Backs built an inning in the strangest way possible. Tyler Locklear opened the frame with a leadoff single before Arizona loaded the bases with consecutive hit batsman with both Blaze Alexander and James McCann were plunked. Frustratingly, the D-Backs would plate just one with an Alek Thomas sacrifice fly while Jorge Barrosa and Ketel Marte harmlessly flew out. It was the only offensive threat the team would build despite collecting four walks on the night.
Meanwhile, it wasn’t as if the Padres were being turned away with difficulty. Through the first six innings of the game, San Diego had just three hits and had managed to find inventive ways not to score including a caught stealing of home when a double steal went awry. Their first two runs came via the long ball – the first from Xander Bogaerts in the seventh and the tying number in the ninth from newcomer Ryan O’Hearn on an impressive solo shot. They added their third and final run in the same frame off a Bogaerts double and Jose Iglesias single against Kyle Backhus who had been called upon for a second inning of work out of a depleted and exhausted bullpen after last night’s extra-inning affair.