Diamondbacks rookie Brandon Pfaadt roughed up in 2nd career start by Marlins, Jorge Soler
Brandon Pfaadt turns in another clunker in 2nd career start
Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt did not bother to turn his head and follow the flight of the ball. Like everyone else in the ballpark, he knew the swing by the Miami Marlins’ Jorge Soler had produced a home run. The only question was how far it would go.
Unfortunately for Pfaadt, such swings have become a trend through his first two major league starts, the second of which ended in a 6-2 loss for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night at Chase Field.
After giving up four home runs to the Rangers in Texas in his major-league debut last week, Pfaadt gave up two more long balls, both to Soler, on Tuesday night. He also allowed six other balls hit 95 mph or harder on a line or in the air.
Pfaadt has allowed 13 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings in his two starts. He has as many home runs allowed (six) as he does strikeouts. It goes without saying it has not been the start to his career the Diamondbacks had envisioned for their top pitching prospect.
“I think there are some growing pains that are taking place right now,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “But he’s got the stuff. He’s got the ability to go out there and blend (his repertoire) and pitch and help us win baseball games.”
Lovullo saw Pfaadt’s problems on Tuesday night as twofold, both issues intertwined with his fastball. He thinks Pfaadt’s command of his primary pitch was not good. He also thinks Pfaadt leaned too heavily on it, at least in the early innings, before going too hard the other direction later in the game.
“I think he’s got to blend his pitches better,” Lovullo said. “He’s got to land different pitches in different areas with different speeds. … I think he has the ability to do a lot. But he’s young and he’s learning and growing. We’ve just got to be patient. But it’ll happen for him.”
If there was any question as to whether the Diamondbacks would entrust him with another start after the way the first two have gone, Lovullo put that notion to rest on Tuesday night.
“Long enough,” Lovullo said to a question about the length of Pfaadt’s leash. “He’s fine. He’s OK. If you’re asking is he getting another start, yeah, he’s getting another start.”
Soler’s first home run — the ball Pfaadt did not turn to watch — traveled an estimated 468 feet. It landed on the concourse in left-center field, beneath the video board that displays the Diamondbacks’ lineup. A three-run shot, it gave the Marlins a 4-0 lead. Three innings later, Soler clobbered another homer, though one that was far more modest. It went 433 feet, a two-run blast that put the Marlins up, 6-1.
The first Soler homer came on a fastball, a pitch that has been getting tattooed in Pfaadt’s two starts. Opposing hitters are 11 for 25 (.440) with four doubles and two homers when putting his heater in play.
Though the pitch has averaged a bit above 93 mph, at least one rival evaluator believes the pitch lacks some of the action Pfaadt has generated when he has been at his best in the past. Pfaadt seems to think it will play as is with better location.
“I definitely think we got too fastball-dependent early, which is kind of my game plan, to attack with heaters, and the second, third time through start mixing it in,” Pfaadt said. “I think in the middle innings we kind of flipped the script and got too offspeed dependent. I think finding that right mix will work out for us.
“I think my game plan would work up here as long as those heaters aren’t missed (over the) middle, which has been happening lately.”
Pfaadt thinks he needs to put himself in better situations by making more effective pitches early in counts.
“I think it’s more trusting myself to get ahead on the corners instead of trying to nit-pick and fall behind and ultimately have to attack in the zone,” Pfaadt said. “I think that’s something, moving forward, that we need to work on. It’ll get better.”
—Nick Piecoro
D-Backs’ Zach Davies logs 2 innings in minors outing
In his first action since suffering a left oblique strain in the second week of the season, Diamondbacks right-hander Zach Davies threw two innings and 34 pitches on Tuesday in an extended spring training game, manager Torey Lovullo said.
Davies is on target to pitch again in five or six days, Lovullo said.
“(Pitching coach Brent Strom) saw him and said he looked great,” Lovullo said. “He checked all of his boxes and feels good. I think we’re going to stretch him out to three or four (inning) and probably 50, 55 pitches his next outing.”
Assuming that outing goes well, it would put Davies on track to potentially return from the injured list at some point during the upcoming road trip.
—Nick Piecoro
Outfielder Kyle Lewis still working way back to D-Backs
Diamondbacks outfielder Kyle Lewis played again at extended spring training but still remains “several days away” from potentially beginning a minor league rehab assignment with one of the club’s affiliates, something that Lovullo said would likely need to happen before Lewis could return from the injured list.
Lewis has not played since April 7. He has been out with an undisclosed illness.
Lovullo was asked what the game plan was to getting Lewis back on the active roster.
“It’s undefined,” Lovullo said. “We’re not sure at this point. There is no timeline. As his body starts to gain strength and he starts to feel better, we’re going to find a way to get him back onto the field more consistently and kind of figure out what that timeline will be to get back with us.”
—Nick Piecoro
Christian Walker hitting for average and power
Christian Walker’s seven home runs since April 18 lead the majors, and his 17 RBI are tied for the most. On the season he leads the Diamondbacks in home runs (9) and RBI (28).
Last season Walker had good numbers in the power department with 36 home runs and 94 RBI, but his batting average of .242 was lower than what he would have liked. Early in the year he was hitting a lot of balls hard but right at defenders.
But this season he is at a solid .289. The veteran tries to remain even keel when it comes to such things.
“You try and play the long game, you know the highs and lows of a season are inevitable so definitely trying embrace the good fortune I’ve had early," he said. "I just get satisfaction in the process. As long as I’m hitting the ball hard, of course I want to see the hits fall. I want the results, but also if I’m controlling what I can control, I feel dangerous at the plate, I can handle the results.”
Helping matters is that the offense isn’t dependent on him. Last season runs were at a premium and getting multiple hits in an inning was a challenge for the young Diamondbacks.
Not only is Walker hitting, so are others around him. Heading into Tuesday’s game against the Marlins, Geraldo Perdomo was hitting .380, a stark contrast to his .195 last season. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was at .310, Gabriel Moreno .315 and rookie phenom Corbin Carroll .301.
Gurriel, who hits third in the lineup just ahead of Walker, is 8 for 11 with four home runs, nine runs scored, six RBI and four walks in his past four games.
“I’m surrounded by really good hitters and the other team isn’t in the position of dancing around guys because there isn’t an easy out in this lineup,” Walker said. “They walk somebody, then they have to face another really good hitter. I have a lot of confidence in our guys and it isn’t all about the power. They get on and create chaos on the bases. That’s valuable. I think the whole offense is feeling the perks of that."
—Michelle Gardner
Coming up
Wednesday: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (3-3, 2.75) vs. Marlins RHP Edward Cabrera (2-3, 4.78).
Thursday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Tommy Henry (1-0, 5.17) vs. Giants RHP Alex Cobb (2-1, 2.01).
Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (1-2, 6.00) vs. Giants RHP Ross Stripling (0-2, 6.66)
Monday game recap: Zac Gallen stifles Marlins, leading Diamondbacks to series-opening win
What to know about the Miami Marlins
The Marlins entered Sunday having lost five consecutive games and nine of their past 13, seeing their record drop below .500. The offense has averaged just 3.3 runs per game while the pitching staff has posted a 6.16 ERA in those 13 games. 2B Luis Arraez is hitting an incredible .430/.483/.533 through 120 plate appearances, with six doubles, one triple, one home run and more walks (11) than strikeouts (seven). DH Jorge Soler leads the Marlins with seven homers. CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. is off to a slow start, hitting just .223, though he does have five homers and a team-leading 11 steals. LHP Jesus Luzardo, whom the Diamondbacks are facing this week, has posted a 3.66 ERA in seven starts, striking out 43 in 39 1/3 innings. LHP A.J. Puk had a 0.75 ERA in his first 11 appearances but has allowed five runs (four earned) in his past two outings.
Pregame reading
It's a process: Alek Thomas looking for answers against left-handed pitchers
Double trouble: Ketel Marte productive again from both sides of plate
One step closer: Prospect Kristian Robinson secures visa, nears return to minors
Throwback approach: Diamondbacks catcher Moreno's style helps him throw out baserunners
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Marlins even series with Diamondbacks on 2 Soler homers off Pfaadt
