Diamondbacks' Dodger blues continue in series opening loss

For all the nadirs of last year’s 52-110 finish and for all the peaks of this year’s surprising 23-23 start, there’s been one constant: If you want to watch the worst version of the Diamondbacks, circle their 19 annual matchups against the Los Angeles Dodgers, turn on Bally Sports and enjoy.

The Dodgers settled into Chase Field on Thursday, preparing to face a Diamondbacks team that had spent the past seven days regaining its sense of self after last week’s four-game sweep in Los Angeles. Over that stretch, Arizona won five of six against the Cubs and Royals.

As has so often happened over the past two and a half years, that success dissipated upon the Dodgers’ arrival. So after Thursday night’s 14-1 shellacking, update the numbers. The Diamondbacks are now 2-6 against Los Angeles this year and 7-30 against them since 2019.

“When we lose the way we did today, it's a little bit more like chewing on an onion,” manager Torey Lovullo said after.

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Lovullo dismissed the importance of the specific opponent. That’s been a consistent refrain for the Diamondbacks — even after last month’s series win against the Dodgers, their first in three years.

Then, the focus was on how well they played. On Thursday, it was on how poorly they did.

Starter Humberto Castellanos struggled early and often, giving up two runs in the first, four in the second and exiting after four innings with a line of 10 hits, six runs and just one strikeout.

“On the mound, we weren't attacking the zone, weren't attacking the right spots,” Lovullo said. “And when you make mistakes to big league hitters, they're gonna make you pay for it and I think that's what happened to (Castellanos).”

Luis Frias was no better in relief. He allowed 10 baserunners and four runs in 2 2/3 innings of work.

“Frias came in and unfortunately just couldn't get comfortable in the zone,” Lovullo said. “I thought he was overthrowing at times, coming out of his delivery and once again was making a ton of mistakes.”

By the end of the night — which concluded with infielder Jake Hager on the mound — the Diamondbacks had given up 24 hits. That tied a franchise record, set on Sept. 2, 2002, when Mark Grace famously imitated Mike Fetters’ trademark head turn.

Arizona’s defense did its pitchers no favors, especially in the infield. Although the unit was credited with just one error, the laundry list of mistakes was extensive.

It started with Daulton Varsho’s second inning passed ball. Then there was Josh Rojas dropping a line drive three batters later. Geraldo Perdomo lost a grounder on the transfer. Ketel Marte didn’t get behind a grounder and committed the Diamondbacks’ lone error. Perdomo got a relay throw stuck in his glove. Marte let a potential double-play throw sail to the dugout railing.

The coup de grâce came in the sixth, when Marte and Perdomo failed to communicate on a routine grounder, letting it roll untouched into the outfield. By that point, trailing 9-0, the pair let their frustration show.

“By me looking at them, I should not be able to tell if we're having a good or a bad day,” Lovullo said. “… And today, I could see that we were down and out.”

In both the media room and clubhouse postgame, there was a quiet confidence that Thursday’s struggles would be flushed away by morning.

“I think this team does a good job of refocusing the next day,” Lovullo said. That observation is supported by plenty of evidence over the past month, differentiating this team from the one that fell into an 8-50 tailspin last summer. After each of closer Mark Melancon’s blown saves last homestand, the Diamondbacks immediately rebounded with wins. And when they got swept in Los Angeles, they responded by winning three straight in Chicago.

Even down 6-0 Thursday, they strung together good at-bats for most of the night, producing an expected batting average of .422 that wasn’t reflected in their 8-for-34 (.235) final line.

“I'm not really worried at all,” Rojas said. “I think this clubhouse has the confidence right now that we'll show up tomorrow and everybody will prepare like today didn't happen.”

Theo Mackie covers Arizona high school sports and Phoenix Rising FC. He can be reached by email at theo.mackie@gannett.com and on Twitter @theo_mackie.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks' Dodger blues continue in series opening loss