Corbin Burnes' injury darkens Diamondbacks' much-needed win over Nationals
The Diamondbacks got a win they really needed, and got a strong performance out of their bullpen in that win which was perhaps just as critical. They celebrated young right-hander Cristian Mena, who one day after being called up from Triple-A Reno earned his first career major league victory with two scoreless innings of work.
But the 3-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday, June 1, didn't come without misfortune. Starting pitcher Corbin Burnes left the game after 4 ⅔ innings with what the Diamondbacks announced as right elbow discomfort.
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Burnes said he'd started to feel tightness before he motioned for a trainer with two outs in the top of the fifth inning.
"Obviously, saw the velo(city) start to drop and the movement of the pitches was not where we wanted it to be," Burnes said. "Just got to the point where the tightness was too much and didn't feel like we need to push it any farther. Hopefully we caught it early, hopefully it's not bad, but we'll see."
Burnes said he's never felt anything like what he did before, and that he hopes it was his body was telling him to shut down before things got too bad. Burnes won't go with the team to Atlanta on its next road trip and will stay in town for an MRI on his elbow early Monday morning, June 2.
"It's a gut punch, for sure," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "He is tough. He rarely complains about anything. So when you see him wave the trainer and the coaches out there, you're holding your breath."
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The concern level, manager Lovullo said, is more than minimal.
"Keep our fingers crossed," he said.
Losing Burnes for any extended time period surely means another shakeup in the starting rotation, and costs the Diamondbacks their most effective starting pitcher over the past month.
Only two days earlier, the Diamondbacks (28-31) moved right-handed starter and reliever Ryne Nelson to the bullpen, with lefty Eduardo Rodriguez soon to return from the injured list. If Burnes isn't OK to make his next start, Nelson could be yo-yoed back into the starting rotation.
"I have a front office full of unbelievable minds that are waiting to discuss that, pitching coaches that are waiting to discuss that, so yes, we are in a very fluid situation right now," Lovullo said. "It's going to involve Mena and 'Nellie' (Nelson) for sure."
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Burnes said his injury is a tough break because he'd been pitching well and felt good the first couple of innings on Sunday. After four straight losses full of subpar pitching performances, the Diamondbacks got a good start and good relief work to back it up.
After Burnes departed, Jalen Beeks finished the fifth inning. Then Mena pitched two clean innings with only two baserunners allowed. Shelby Miller pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Justin Martinez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his fourth save.
The Diamondbacks managed just three hits for the game. Eugenio Suarez's two-run home run in the first inning was his 16th of the season, tying him with Corbin Carroll for the Diamondbacks' lead. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled in a run in Arizona's three-run first.
"The support after losing our starting pitcher, our bullpen did a really good job," Suarez said. "Now we've got to go to Atlanta and try to win games and have a good road trip, and keep the energy and mentality like (Sunday)."
Cristian Mena up from Reno to Diamondbacks' bullpen
The Arizona Diamondbacks on June 1 made a roster move, calling up Mena from Triple-A Reno and optioning right-hander Scott McGough to Reno.
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McGough pitched on May 31, allowing three runs on three hits with three walks and a strikeout in one inning of work.
Mena was called up last month briefly, appearing in one game before returning to Reno. He's 2-3 in nine starts with a 4.84 earned run average this season at Reno, and has 52 strikeouts to 16 walks there.
"We just need bullpen arms. We're a little bit thin down there," Lovullo said. "Mena will throw out of the bullpen, give us a little bit of coverage in case there's some sort of blowup. But we're also very curious about him. He threw the ball really well when he was here, he threw the ball well in Triple-A, and he's ready for this opportunity to get the baseball."
Corbin Carroll out of lineup
Lovullo opted to give outfielder Corbin Carroll a day off on June 1, with the Diamondbacks facing a left-handed starter and the manager's belief that Carroll has been grinding and needs a break.
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Since May 18, Carroll has six hits and has struck out 15 times.
"It's a very clear sign that the game is a little bit of a challenge for him, and I just thought getting him off his feet and giving him a blow (Sunday)," Lovullo said. "If he doesn't play, he gets today and tomorrow off, a little bit of a recharge."
Coming up
June 2: Off.
June 3: At Atlanta, 4:15 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (3-7, 5.54) vs. Braves RHP Spencer Strider (0-3, 4.50).
June 4: At Atlanta, 4:15 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (5-2, 3.78) vs. Braves LHP Chris Sale (3-3, 3.06).
June 5: At Atlanta, 9:15 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-4, 5.05) vs. Braves RHP Grant Holmes (3-4, 3.78).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks get needed win, but lose pitcher Corbin Burnes
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