Juan Morillo one of several Diamondbacks' heroes in series-opeining win over Padres

SAN DIEGO — Juan Morillo wasn’t supposed to be on the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning trying to hold a lead on Monday, July 7, against a National League wild card contender. He’d only just arrived at Petco Park from Triple-A Reno two innings prior, and entered with a runner on base and one out in a three-run game.

The Diamondbacks right-hander walked the first two Padres batters he faced, but somehow got a pop out and strikeout, walking off the mound in celebration of keeping the Padres from getting closer. All after throwing 17 balls and five strikes.

Then Alek Thomas made a big-time catch on the warning track in right-center field to take away an extra-base hit from Jackson Merrill in the bottom of the ninth, and the Diamondbacks — coming off a 3-7 homestand, playing without one of their All-Stars and losing their closer to a right forearm strain less than an hour before first pitch — gutted out a 6-3 win.

“Part of the game, too. I don’t have excuses for anything. But thanks to God, I was able to escape from that situation,” Morillo said in Spanish after the game. “I’ve felt a lot of pressure before. I was trying to do my job and get out of the inning and help my teammates get a win.”

The replacement on the active roster for closer Shelby Miller, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain about an hour before first pitch, Morillo got the two outs he was asked to get and set up Kevin Ginkel, a perhaps unlikely closer, to pick up his second save of the season.

The Diamondbacks also played without All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte, who was scratched from the lineup with right groin tightness. But Marte could be back in action as soon as Tuesday, July 8.

“They didn’t let that news affect them on Shelby. The Marte scratch happened very late, it’s easy to get distracted,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “It was a situation where in my opinion, players are havig to grow up. I asked guys to do things out of the bullpen where they’re going out there and maturing right before our very eyes, and that’s what we need them to do.”

Miller felt something in his arm after he last pitched on July 5 at Chase Field. He joined the team on July 7 in San Diego and was at Petco Park for pregame work. Without him or Marte, the Diamondbacks (45-46) were at a big disadvantage against the Padres (48-42). But Zac Gallen (7-9) put together a second consecutive solid start with one unearned run allowed on five hits in six innings, striking out nine. Corbin Carroll broke out of a two-game hitting slump with a double and triple, Josh Naylor hit a two-run home run, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had three hits

“This year’s definitely been pretty frustrating for me, from a results standpoint,” Gallen said. His earned run average remains high for him, at 5.15.

“Just to come out here and be able to take the first one, offense did a great job answering back,” he added. “Just try to go out there and execute 100 pitches a night and just try and stay locked in and stay within the process of executing pitches.”

Manny Machado, whose 2,000th career major league hit came off Gallen earlier, grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the game. Thomas made his catch right before that.

“All I know is a play was made, and we did our job,” Lovullo said. “All of our outfielders are getting really good jumps on the ball. They continue to improve in that area. That’s clearly why the ball was caught, for sure.”

Shelby Miller to injured list, Ketel Marte day to day

The injuries within the Diamondbacks continued to mount, and the bullpen suffered another one before the team’s game against the Padres on Monday, July 7.

Miller was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain in an announcement made less than an hour before first pitch, retroactive to July 6. Morillo, optioned to Triple-A Reno on July 1, was recalled to replace Miller on the active roster.

Miller (3-3, 1.98 earned run average) has 10 saves in 15 chances, and most recently pitched on July 5 at Chase Field against the Kansas City Royals, throwing a scoreless inning. He’s appeared in 37 games this season.

Morillo returned after having spent more than two months in the major leagues with Arizona. He is 0-2 with a 3.91 ERA in 29 games after his clutch performance on Monday.

The Diamondbacks bullpen lost reliever Ryan Thompson to a strained scapula on July 6 when he was placed on the 15-day injured list, and right-hander Kendall Graveman is still working his way back from a right hip impingement.

Before announcing the Miller injury, the Diamondbacks made a late lineup change, removing Marte from the batting order with right groin tightness and inserting Blaze Alexander.

Marte was scheduled to bat second. Instead, players in the lineup were moved up in the order, and Alexander batted ninth.

Alexander got his fourth start in the past five games, playing second base for the third time. Marte did not play July 5 and was used as the designated hitter July 3.

Naylor, Carroll playing through ‘bumps and bruises’

Naylor was in the Diamondbacks’ lineup on Monday, July 7, playing first base and batting fourth. But Naylor continues to play through a lot of “bumps and bruises,” manager Torey Lovullo said.

“But he continues to want to go out there and perform, help this team win baseball games,” Lovullo said prior to the four-game series opener against the Padres at Petco Park.

“Those are two things that stand out to me,” Lovullo said, also mentioning Carroll, who is playing through a broken wrist bone. “The guys that are banged up aren’t letting it happen where it’s going to take them out of the lineup. They want to go out there and play.”

Carroll returned on July 5, but was 0-for-9 with five strikeouts in his first two games back from the injured list on July 5 and 6.

“I just appreciate what he’s trying to do,” Lovullo said of Carroll. “His hand has healed enough to where it’s not going to do any more damage. I keep asking him how it’s going and he said ‘fine.'”

Coming up

Tuesday, July 8: At San Diego, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (7-4, 3.55) vs. Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (9-2, 3.25).

Wednesday, July 9: At San Diego, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (8-6, 5.42) vs. Padres RHP Dylan Cease (3-8, 4.62).

Thursday, July 10: At San Diego, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-5, 5.78) vs. Padres RHP Randy Vasquez (3-4, 3.79).

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks lose another bullpen arm but take opener over Padres

Juan Morillo one of several Diamondbacks’ heroes in series-opeining win over Padres

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