Padres Trounce Diamondbacks 18-6 in Ugly Spring Contest

Tommy Henry and eight other pitchers wither in face of Padres juggernaut lineup

Diamondbacks pitching coach Brent Strom could not have been happy today. When asked in the past how he evaluates pitchers, one key element is whether or not a pitcher comes back into the zone after giving up a home run. Today starter Tommy Henry failed that evaluation. 

His outing against a star studded Padres lineup started well. He induced Xander Bogaerts into a ground out and then struck out Manny Machado on a fastball up in the zone.  Corbin Carroll misplayed a deep fly ball to the track, losing it in the sun and wind, giving Juan Soto a double. But he struck out Nelson Cruz swinging to end the first. 

The second inning was not the same. He walked Jake Cronenworth and gave up a bloop single to Ha-Seong Kim left. One out later he made a decent pitch to Trent Grisham that was slightly down and in. But Grisham went down and got it, crushing a three run homer.  From there, Henry got scared out of strike zone. He walked the next batter on four pitches, and fell behind 3-1 to Bogaerts. He got a ground ball down to third that should have been an inning ending double play, but Deyvsion De Los Santos bobbled it for an error and no out was recorded. That was the end of Henry's day. 

Blake Workman came on in relief of Henry in that second inning, but gave up five hits and a hit batter before recording an out.  That balooned Henry's line to 1.1 IP, 3 hits, 5 runs, 4 earned, 2 walks, 2 K's and a homer.  The Padres went on to bat around and then some, scoring nine runs in the inning, effectively ending the game.

Henry, who is competing for the fifth rotation spot, has little margin for error. He's considered by most outside pundits to be 4th in line for the number five rotation spot, behind Drey Jameson, Ryne Nelson, and Brandon Pfaadt. Today could not have help his cause. 

Austin Brice allowed five runs in his lone inning of work. Zach McAllister and Cole Sulser  both had to wiggle off the hook after loading the bases. It was not a good day for the non roster invitee relievers.

There were a few highlights for the D-backs however.  Pavin Smith hit a two run homer to get the D-backs on the board in the 4th inning. 

Hopefully Smith can do a lot more of this in 2023. I project him to get at least 300 PA.
pic.twitter.com/9CSBQTAdkH

— Jack Sommers (@shoewizard59) February 26, 2023

Alek Thomas ripped a double down the left field line to score two runs and Buddy Kennedy had an RBI triple as the D-backs put up four runs in the 6th.  Jordan Lawlar had an outstanding diving catch of a pop fly in shallow center to end the 6th, but by that time the score was already 17-6.

Slade Cecconi got knocked around in the 6th, giving up four hits and three runs  before being yanked from the game.  But in a spring oddity, he was allowed to return  in the bottom of the 7th as the D-backs were running out of pitchers. Ironically, Cecconi worked a one-two-three inning, striking out two. 

In all nine D-backs pitchers allowed 19 hits, including three homers, walked seven, and the defense committed two errors.  One shutters to think how long this game would have taken without the pitch clock. 

While it's just a spring training game, the main takeaway is the Padres lineup is almost impossible to pitch to. Fernando Tatis Jr. did not even play in this game. 

The Diamondbacks will face the Cubs in a split squad game at Salt River Fields at 1:10 P.M. tomorrow. Brandon Pfaadt will go for  Arizona. In the evening they will host the West Virginia Mountaineers college baseball team. You can purchase tickets at sitickets.com