Arizona Diamondbacks' offense hitless in last four innings, swept by Reds

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19 hours ago

CINCINNATI — With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning on Sunday, June 8, Diamondbacks catcher José Herrera set up his mitt above the outside of home plate to right-handed hitting Cincinnati Reds No. 9 hitter Matt McClain.
The 0-1 slider from Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen missed the target and went right over the plate, where McClain was able to get a good swing and send the ball into the left-field seats for a two-run home run.
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That shot broke a 2-2 tie for a 4-2 Reds lead, and it was all Cincinnati needed to take a win and a series sweep over the Diamondbacks this weekend at Great American Ball Park.
It was one of three home runs for the Reds on the day, all off Gallen (4-8).
"Maybe one of those stays in at another park," Gallen said. ''But it looked like they were hit pretty solid. Obviously, it's on your mind when you're out there, you're cognizant of this park playing a little bit smaller. You kind of tend to have higher home run totals. But I think when you make a mistake toward the middle of the plate, it doesn't matter where you're playing."
Gallen — in his 150th career start as a Diamondback — allowed four runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 6⅔ innings, a decent outing but one not supported by much offense. The Diamondbacks (31-34) scored just six runs over three games in a hitter-friendly stadium, and on Sunday went the final four innings of the game without a hit or even a single runner on base.
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"Very disappointed," manager Torey Lovullo said. "We lose two tough ballgames here. The middle game (13-1 loss) was a clunker yesterday, I'm aware of that. But they (the Reds) got big hits at most critical times, and we didn't. And that's the difference in the game.
"Our guys are very capable of doing that. It just didn't happen," Lovullo added. "But Zac did his job today. He did everything he possibly could. He felt great, looked great, just made a couple of mistakes and he paid for it."
The Diamondbacks had a 2-0 lead through three innings but couldn't build on it. They had two runners on base in both the fourth and fifth innings but couldn't score.
Eugenio Suarez hit his second home run in as many days and Corbin Carroll drove in Alek Thomas for a run in the third inning, but Geraldo Perdomo grounded into a pair of double plays.
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"He's so good at working counts, seeing the ball, just working his approach around the field," Lovullo said of Perdomo. "Maybe getting a little bit jumpy and pull-happy."
Rain delayed the game 31 minutes before the top of the sixth inning, the second game in three days affected by precipitation in southern Ohio.
"It's what happens when you come to the Midwest," Lovullo said. "It seems like every year when we come on this trip in this space. So we talked about it, it didn't surprise anybody. It's just one of those things you've got to deal with."
Thomas led a good day on defense for the Diamondbacks with a diving catch in center field to rob Gavin Lux of an extra-base hit. There was a double p[ay turned in the infield, and Gallen picked off the speedy Elly De La Cruz as the Arizona executed the rundown play well.
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Next for the Diamondbacks is the struggling Seattle Mariners back at Chase Field. They've dropped out of the top spot in the American League West.
"When we go back home I think we're going to be just fine," Thomas said. "We're just going to put together good at-bats and pass the baton to the next guy, and get on base and drive them in. A little bit of luck in there, too, and things will fall our way."
Backhus makes big league debut
Left-handed reliever Kyle Backhus entered the game in the bottom of the eighth and made his major league debut, tossing a scoreless 1-2-3 inning. Backhus was called up from Triple-A Reno earlier in the day, and his first career MLB strikeout came against De La Cruz, the star of the Reds.
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Lovullo said Backhus showed what the organization liked about him in spring training.
"Super proud of him, super happy for him and he's got some really good stuff," Lovullo said. "We're very intrigued by what he's capable of doing."
Backhus said there was not enough time for his wife and infant daughter to come see his debut on such short notice with the call-up. But they will join him when the Diamondbacks return to Phoenix on June 9.
"It was exciting. Tried not to put too much into it," Backhus said. "A lot of guys in the bullpen helped calm my nerves a little bit. Being around some of these guys in camp helps a lot. Just going out there and doing my thing."
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Backhus was on a road trip with Reno in Oklahoma City so he got two hours of sleep because he was awake doing laundry.
"Other than that, it is what it is. I'll take this call 100 more times," Backhus said.
Busy days for DBacks' Herrera
José Herrera nodded his head in the clubhouse before Sunday's game, when asked how his arm felt.
That was good for the Diamondbacks, who called upon Herrera to catch a full game for the second straight day. Herrera normally catches on Sundays, but he was pressed into service as catcher and for one inning, relief pitcher the day before.
Herrera caught for 12 innings on June 7, then pitched a scoreless inning. Several teammates asked him if he was feeling good.
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"I like the catchers pitching, because they throw the ball back to the pitcher at that distance, and it's not adding on to any more volume," Lovullo said. "They're going to receive one, they're going to throw one back to the pitcher, so it's a one-for-one proposition for me. They know the distance, they know how to gauge the speed, and they can lob it in there because they're used to it."
Lovullo told Herrera not to throw more than 55 mph. Herrera's velocity was in the 40s, in a game the Diamondbacks lost 13-1.
"I just don't want anybody to get hurt in that situation," Lovullo said. "I want to just get off the field healthy and live to fight another day."
Moreno 'feeling much better,' Carroll back in lineup
After not playing in the June 7 game against the Reds, catcher Gabriel Moreno's sore right hand was feeling better on June 8, Lovullo said. Moreno was OK to serve as a backup to Herrera.
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Moreno seems to have avoided an injured list stint for the moment.
"He got struck on the hand by a ball that got him in the right spot, and we felt like it was going to be day to day for a little while," Lovullo said. "But it was going to turn a corner quickly, and eventually get him back on the field much quicker than the 10 days (injured list), and that's kind of where we're at right now."
Lovullo gave an update on the catching depth in the minor leagues. Adrian Del Castillo is about to return to Reno for games after rehabbing his injured shoulder at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, and Rene Pinto, who with Del Castillo and Garcia was also in spring training, recently broke his hand.
Also, outfielder Corbin Carroll was back in the lineup on June 8 after two days out for rest.
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"It's just nice to have one of the best players in the league available and back in your lineup," Lovullo said. "But we had to be careful. There's a lot of baseball, and it was a quick turnaround day in Atlanta, and he plays hard. He goes as hard as anybody we have, and the body was just not responding and needed a little bit more rest."
Roster move
The Diamondbacks had to return pitcher Christian Montes De Oca to Reno despite his solid outing on June 7, because he was the appointed 27th player on the active roster for the day. But the team did add a pitcher on June 8, with Backhus brought up and catcher Aramis Garcia designated for assignment.
Garcia caught for a half-inning on June 7, soon after being called up to provide coverage, with Moreno unable to play due to right hand soreness.
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Backhus is 4-4 with a 2.22 earned run average at Reno, with 24 appearances this season.
Coming up
Monday, June 9: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (6-2, 3.43) vs. Mariners RHP Emerson Hancock (2-2, 5.19).
Tuesday, June 10: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-4, 5.51) vs. Mariners RHP Bryan Woo (5-3, 3.07).
Wednesday, June 11: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-3, 6.70) vs. Mariners RHP Bryce Miller (2-5, 5.73)
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks' offense falters in loss and 3-game sweep by Reds