Brandon Pfaadt hammered by Yankees, Diamondbacks drop first game in NY
NEW YORK — The Diamondbacks attacked baseball’s most prolific home run hitter on Friday night like they were unaware of his exploits. Or, if not unaware, at least unafraid. Either way, Aaron Judge made them pay.
Judge slammed three home runs to lead the New York Yankees to a 7-1 thumping of the Diamondbacks, a loss that brings an end to their win streak at five and cost them a chance to further cement their status in the wild-card race.
That is because two of the three teams hot on their heels for a playoff spot also lost, with the Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins both dropping the openers of their weekend series. The Chicago Cubs, however, won earlier in the day, gaining a game on the Diamondbacks.
The Diamondbacks are a game up on the Cubs for the second wild-card spot, two games ahead the Marlins and 2 1/2 games ahead of the Reds.
Judge connected for a three-run shot off Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt in the third, a two-run shot off Pfaadt in the fifth and a solo homer off reliever Slade Cecconi in the seventh.
Pfaadt, who was charged with six runs (five earned) in 4 1/3 innings, seemed most frustrated by his misplay of a comebacker in the third, a ball that could have been a double-play but instead set the stage for Judge’s first homer.
“I think I just tried to throw before I caught it,” said Pfaadt, who didn’t field it cleanly off the bat or pick it up cleanly off the ground. “That’s kind of what they teach you when you’re 9 is to catch the ball first.”
Two batters later, Judge came to the plate with two on and one out and blasted a first-pitch fastball out to right-center field for a three-run homer, putting the Yankees in front 3-0. Neither Pfaadt nor Lovullo seemed to have many second-thoughts about pitching to Judge aggressively in that situation rather than taking their chances with cleanup hitter Gleyber Torres.
“We never entertained the idea of walking him or pitching around him,” Lovullo said of Judge. “We wanted to attack him and get him out. That was the mind-set in that key situation.”
Said Pfaadt: “I think more the second time was the killer.”
In the fifth, Judge came to the plate with a runner on second, but rather than using the open base, the Diamondbacks went after him again. Pfaadt jumped ahead, 1-2, and tried to go upstairs with a fastball. The pitch went down the middle and Judge again tattooed it to right-center.
The third came on a similar pitch, a 2-0 fastball down the middle from Cecconi that Judge barely got over the right-field wall.
“He’s the one guy we talked about in pregame that you got to pitch very tough,” Lovullo said. “When you get ahead of him you’ve got to make pitches and you can’t take anything for granted through the course of the at-bat. You’ve got to finish the at-bat and make quality pitches all the way through. When you don’t, he hits three home runs.”
Said Pfaadt: “It’s almost like, oh, nice out, and then it’s 400 feet. It’s pretty impressive. But we knew that going in. We’ve got to be more cautious of that going forward, for sure, for guys like that.”
The Diamondbacks were shut down over 5 1/3 innings by right-hander Luke Weaver and scored their lone run in the ninth on a solo homer by Christian Walker.
Outfielder Tommy Pham left the game after six innings with an irritated right big toe, Lovullo said. He said Pham is “day-to-day” and “most likely” will play on Saturday.
Outfielder Corbin Carroll also sounded like he was in good shape despite taking a vicious tumble in the bottom of the seventh. While trying to slide knee-first in pursuit of a ball down the left-field line, Carroll’s right knee dug into the grass and he flipped over, landing on his back.
“It was weird; I’ve never seen a field like that,” Carroll said. “It was like going into sand. My knee was all the way in the ground.”
He said his knee, neck and back all felt all right.
“I feel pretty good right now,” he said. “We’ll see tomorrow.”
That phrase applies to the game itself on Saturday, which is in jeopardy of getting washed out by heavy rain the forecast. Rain also is expected on Sunday.
“We’re in a great spot,” Lovullo said when asked about his pitching plans for Saturday. “I managed the game at a certain point today to just hang on to some arms. We’re going to be fine. We’re going to be ready to make adjustments.
“This whole thing is going to be extremely fluid over the next 24-36 hours. We know that. We’ll be ready to play baseball whenever they tell us to.”
Miguel Castro placed on paternity list; Slade Cecconi rejoins team
NEW YORK — Diamondbacks reliever Miguel Castro has been placed on the paternity list and was replaced on the roster by right-hander Slade Cecconi, who was recalled from Triple-A Reno.
Castro returned to his native Dominican Republic, manager Torey Lovullo said, and is expected to rejoin the team on Monday in Chicago.
Castro endured a miserable two-month stretch in which he gave up 19 earned runs in the span of 24 appearances. But he has since gotten back on track, turning in 10 consecutive scoreless outings, including three on the club’s recent 5-0 homestand against the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants.
Cecconi last pitched for the Diamondbacks on Sept. 2, the night he was roughed up by the Baltimore Orioles and promptly sent back to the minors. In three starts with Reno, he logged a 4.05 ERA with seven walks and 14 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings.
He will provide versatility and an arm capable of providing multiple innings in relief, if necessary, Lovullo said.
Diamondbacks set rotation vs. Yankees as rain looms
NEW YORK — The Diamondbacks will start right-handers Zach Davies and Zac Gallen on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, with right-hander Merrill Kelly set to pitch in the opener of Monday’s series against the White Sox in Chicago.
However, with heavy rain forecast for Saturday and Sunday in New York, those plans are subject to change.
“Something’s coming,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’re just not sure when and how much rain will be coming. There’s all sorts of plans that are built around the first day, the second day or both days. We’re going to be adaptable and make the necessary adjustments.”
If the teams can’t play one or both games, one possible scenario would involve the Diamondbacks returning to New York on Oct. 2 — the Monday after the last day of the regular season — to play the requisite games. Both could be important for determining the playoff picture in the National League.
For now, Gallen is lined up to pitch on Sunday and again the following Friday against the Houston Astros in the final series of the season, Lovullo said. Presumably, Kelly is lined up to pitch the second game of the Astros series.
That would line them up to start in Games 2 and 3 of the best-of-three wild-card series, though those plans could change if the club were to clinch a postseason berth on this road trip.
Ivan Melendez headlines DBacks prospects in Arizona Fall League
NEW YORK — Slugger Ivan Melendez, who mashed 30 home runs between High-A and Double-A this year, headlines a group of eight prospects who will represent the Diamondbacks in the Arizona Fall League.
Melendez, who plays both corner infield positions, was a second-round pick last year out of the University of Texas.
The Diamondbacks are also sending outfielder A.J. Vukovich; catcher/outfielder Caleb Roberts; left-handers Blake Walston, Carlos Meza and Jake Rice; and right-handers Christian Montes de Oca and Austin Pope.
The league gets underway on Oct. 2.
Diamondbacks at Yankees, 4:05 p.m., Yankee Stadium
Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (2-8, 5.86) vs. Yankees RHP Luke Weaver (2-5, 6.77).
Pfaadt was excellent against the Cubs in his most recent start, giving up just four hits and a walk in 5 1/3 scoreless innings. It stopped what had been a shaky three-start stretch in which he had given up 12 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings. … Of the 20 home runs he has allowed this season, 11 have come against left-handed hitters. He also has more walks and fewer strikeouts against lefties. … Weaver will be making his second start for the Yankees, who claimed him off waivers from the Mariners last week. … While pitching for the Reds, he faced the Diamondbacks on July 23, giving up three runs in four-plus innings. … He is allowing an opponents’ average of at least .300 on each of his top three offerings: four-seam fastball (.313), change-up (.313) and slider (.377).
Coming up
Saturday: At New York, 10:05 a.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Yankees LHP Carlos Rodon (3-6, 5.90).
Sunday: At New York, 10:35 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (16-8, 3.60) vs. Yankees RHP Clarke Schmidt (9-9, 4.65).
Monday: At Chicago, 4:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (12-7, 3.37) vs. White Sox RHP Jose Urena (0-6, 7.27).
About the Yankees
When the 2023 schedule was released last fall, this weekend’s series seemed like it could pair a Yankees team glimpsing ahead to the playoffs with a Diamondbacks team glimpsing ahead to 2024. Instead, the Diamondbacks are in control of a playoff spot, while the 76-76 Yankees could be eliminated as soon as Friday. Before the season, their 81.2% playoff odds were tops in the American League. Now, they own the league’s eighth best record. OF Aaron Judge (.968 OPS) is having another outstanding season when healthy and 2B Gleyber Torres (.808) has played at a high level. The rest of the offense has been abysmal. The injured 1B Anthony Rizzo, 3B DJ LeMahieu and OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton are among a group of veterans who entered with high expectations and instead have hit at a below league average level. By runs scored, the Yankees rank 26th, down from second in their 99-win season last year. The Yankees’ bullpen ERA is the best in baseball but their rotation has struggled outside of RHP Gerrit Cole, who is set to win the AL Cy Young. The Diamondbacks will miss Cole and will instead face three starters with ERAs over 4.50.
Diamondbacks watch party on Friday for Yankees game
Fans are invited to an exclusive Diamondbacks watch party for Friday’s game at the New York Yankees from 4-7 p.m. at Guy Fieri’s DTPHX Kitchen + Bar. Former Diamondbacks Mark Grace, Brandon Webb and Jay Bell will make a special appearance from 5-6 p.m. including a Q&A session hosted by former club general manager Joe Garagiola, Jr., followed by an autograph/photograph session. Fieri’s restaurant is in downtown Phoenix adjacent to Chase Field.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Brandon Pfaadt hammered by Yankees, Diamondbacks drop first game in NY
