Diamondbacks Sloppy in Loss to Toronto

Base running and fielding mistakes, squandered chances, and a disaster 7th inning send D-backs to 7-2 defeat

The Diamondbacks came out of the break not just flat, but down right sloppy in their worst played game of the year in.a 7-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The game started out with Geraldo Perdomo drawing a walk. One out later Corbin Carroll singled on a line drive up the middle. But Perdomo took too wide a turn around second and when he tried to get back he slipped and was tagged out.  With Christian Walker at the plate Carroll then made the last out at third, getting caught stealing on a great  diving tag by  Matt Chapman. 

That set the tone for the rest of the game. Ryne Nelson did his best to overcome it, as he pitched a gutsy game.  George Springer singled to lead off the first inning but was caught stealing on an excellent throw by Gabriel Moreno.  Nelson  gave up a  solo homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the bottom of the second, and then had the bases loaded with nobody out on two singles and Ketel Marte's first error of the day.  But Nelson got out of it with a pop out and then a Sac Fly double play. Kevin Kiermaier  had lifted a fly ball to center to score Matt Chapman, but Whit Merrifield got caught off second base for the final out. 

Nelson had to wiggle  out of a bases loaded jam again in the third, working around a couple of singles and a double. Brandon Belt was thrown out at home  however on a good throw by Marte on a ball that ricocheted off Nelson.  A fly out to left ended the threat.  From there Nelson cruised into the 6th, coming out of the game after getting two outs in that frame. His final line was 5.2 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K. He threw 97 pitches, 62 for strikes and gave his team a chance to win. 

The D-backs scored a run in the fourth when Marte doubled and came home to score on a wild pitch by Blue Jays starter Jose Berrios.  Evan Longoria led off the 5th with a base hit but was thrown out by a mile trying to stretch it into a double. They still had runners in scoring position in the 5th and 6th but couldn't get the big hit. After starting the year batting .300 with runners scoring position in April, they've hit just .230 in those situations since May 1st.  

Finally in the 7th , playing in his first game in Toronto since being traded by that franchise, Gabriel Moreno hit an opposite field homer to tie  it up 2-2.  

Revenge is a dish best served at 100 MPH! pic.twitter.com/NhWHHQD80H

— Michael McDermott (@MichaelMcD8393) July 15, 2023

It looked like the D-backs might have a chance to pull it out despite the earlier sloppy play. Instead  there was more of the same as it all fell apart in the bottom of the inning. Kyle Nelson, who had relieved Ryne Nelson in the 6th, has struggled in close games and high leverage this year.  He did so again, allowing a leadoff double to Kiermaier and was pulled from the game. In came Austin Adams who promptly hit  George Springer with a pitch. After a lineout for the first out of the inning a tailor made double play ball was hit to Marte. 

At that point the inning should have ended. Unfortunately Marte struggled to get the ball out of his glove, and when he did, his late throw took Perdomo into the sliding Springer. Getting just the force out instead of the inning ending DP allowed Kiermaier to score and the inning to go on. Adams then allowed a single, a double and a single scoring three more runs. The inning still  wasn't over as there were more mistakes to come. Adams hit Daulton Varsho in the leg and then Marte made a throwing error on another routine ground ball, allowing the fifth and final run of the inning to score.  The D-backs could do nothing over the final two innings to close the 7-2 deficit. 

With the loss not only do all the feel good vibes from the All Star game immediately disappear,  the Diamondbacks fall out of a tie for first place with the Los Angeles Dodgers who defeated the Mets tonight 6-0. They're now one full game back in the NL West.  They'll try to pick up the pieces tomorrow behind ace and All Star game starter Zac Gallen. He'll go against Kevin Gausman, one of the best pitcher in MLB. The Marquee pitching matchups starts at 12:07 P.M. MST