Diamondbacks booed at Chase Field in blowout loss to Guardians
The Arizona Diamondbacks go for a sweep Sunday at Chase Field when they host the Cleveland Guardians. Come back for updates throughout the game.
Diamondbacks booed at Chase Field in blowout loss to Guardians
The Diamondbacks’ attendance turnaround reached a new peak Sunday afternoon with an announced crowd of 42,031. They came in part for the Hawaiian shirt giveaway and in part because Father’s Day and baseball are a perfect match. But they also came because these Diamondbacks have captured a city’s attention in their surprising start.
All of them, season-ticket holders and bandwagoners alike, came expecting more than they got. Now combine that fervor with the product the Diamondbacks provided in a 12-3 loss to the Guardians. The result, perhaps unsurprisingly, came to a head when Zach Davies walked off the mound midway through the third inning, with his glove hanging from his left hand and the Diamondbacks’ hopes hanging by less.
As Davies retreated, head down, into the dugout, the crowd rose to a fever pitch of boos. The displeasure resurfaced a few batters later, as José Ruiz operated a merry-go-round on the basepaths. It came again when third base coach Tony Perezchica held Pavin Smith at third base on a double and once more when Jake McCarthy struck out to leave Smith stranded.
Then it stopped. Perhaps because, by then, there was no point anymore. By then, it was time to enjoy an afternoon at the ballpark without heed to the on-field happenings.
After all, the Diamondbacks are still 42-29. Even with a Sunday afternoon clunker, they won another series to hold their lead atop the NL West at 3.5 games. One blowout loss can feel worse when it comes in front of a near-sellout crowd expecting more, but in the standings, it remains just that.
That holds true even if, for the second time in six days, the afternoon ended with Josh Rojas on the mound, shimmying and strutting through an impromptu ninth inning relief appearance.
The Diamondbacks got to that point in large part because of Davies’ performance. He allowed two runs in a hard-luck first inning, with one of those scoring thanks to a Nick Ahmed error. The other came across because the Guardians were able to hit a pair of changeups beneath the zone for extra-base hits.
From there, though, the wheels came off for Davies. He allowed three runs in the second and two more in the fourth before being removed from the game. After Ruiz relieved him, two more runs charged to Davies came around to score.
The outing moved his ERA to 7.11 and reignited concerns about the back end of the Diamondbacks’ rotation. Outside of Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, the club’s starters have a 6.18 ERA in 43 starts. Somehow, the Diamondbacks have still gone 24-19 in those games.
—Theo Mackie
Diamondbacks game returns from Chase Field lighting delay
Sunday's series finale between the Diamondbacks and Guardians was paused for 15 minutes due to lighting issues at Chase Field.
With Corbin Carroll batting in the bottom of the first inning, the ballpark lights briefly flickered off and on. After coming back on, a few lights remained out, leaving the overall lighting dimmed to the point where umpires stopped the game. Even after the game was resumed, the lighting remains noticeably dim.
While it is bright outside, the Diamondbacks cannot open the roof to address the issue. That is because of safety concerns with the cables that are used to open and close the roof. The roof can still open and close when the ballpark is empty, but not when fans are in the ballpark because of the risk of the cables snapping.
Both teams left the field during the delay, which began at 1:28 p.m, but returned for play to resume at 1:43. Carroll struck out to end his at-bat as the Diamondbacks trail, 2-0.
—Theo Mackie
Joe Mantiply highlights versatility of D-Backs' pen
The biggest weakness for the Arizona Diamondbacks a year ago was the bullpen. There has been significant improvement there and it's a big reason the Diamondbacks have a four-game lead over the Dodgers in the National League West. The team has also done so despite being without all-star Joe Mantiply for five weeks.
Mantiply recently returned from a pulled hamstring. The unit has been so strong that to make room for Mantiply, the team sent down Kevin Ginkel who boasted a 3-0 record and 1.13 ERA.
The Diamondbacks are going more with what most would consider an unconventional approach. There is no designated closer, set-up man. Manager Torey Lovullo plays matchups more than anything else.
Andrew Chafin has a team-high eight saves while Miguel Castro has seven. Scott McGough has three.
“It’s always nice to have set roles but we knew what the situation was going to be coming into the season,” Mantiply said. “I think everyone was prepared to do whatever they were called on to do. We have multiple guys down there that can do multiple things, so it’s benefited us.”
Mantiply, 32, has had two appearances since returning. The first of those came against the Phillies on Tuesday. He allowed four runs and six hits but went three innings, surprising even himself.
Mantiply said the only other time he can recall going three innings out of the bullpen came in 2019 when he was with the Yankees.
His second appearance since the injury came in Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Guardians and Mantiply looked a little more like his All-Star self of a year ago. He went 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
"We’ve been pitching well so it’s a good thing," he said. "You have guys getting experience in roles that maybe if there were set roles, they wouldn’t be getting so that’s good in the long run. It’s good to have guys that can throw in any situation because there could be a night a guy is off and we have to go to someone else."
—Michelle Gardner
Diamondbacks vs. Guardians, 1:10 p.m., BSAZ
Diamondbacks RHP Zach Davies (1-2, 5.46) vs. Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee (2-2, 3.91).
Davies struggled against the Phillies on Tuesday, allowing six runs (four earned) and only making it through three innings. In four starts since returning from the injured list, he has been his typically steady but unspectacular self, with a 5.30 ERA. … Davies 8.4 strikeouts per nine would be a career high. … Bibee, a fifth round pick in 2021, made his major league debut in April. He had a 3.05 ERA before allowing six runs in four innings against the Padres last time out. … Bibee complements a 95.1 mph four-seam fastball with a slider, changeup and curveball (in order of usage). He has an impressive 41.7% whiff rate on the changeup.
Monday: At Milwaukee, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (8-3, 3.04) vs. Brewers RHP Corbin Burnes (5-4, 3.44).
Tuesday: At Milwaukee, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (3-4, 5.30) vs. Brewers RHP Colin Rea (3-4, 4.71).
Wednesday: At Milwaukee, 11:10 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (8-2, 2.96) vs. Brewers RHP Julio Teheran (2-2, 1.78).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks booed at Chase Field in blowout loss to Guardians
