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D-backs Squander Scoring Chances & Lead in Loss to Twins

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Diamondbacks
By Jack Sommers | Last updated 8/4/23

The twin nemesis for the Diamondbacks of squandered scoring opportunities and squandered leads reared their ugly heads again in a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota twins.

Scott McGough gave up the go ahead and winning run on a solo homer to Michael A. Taylor in the 7th inning. At the same time the D-backs managed just three singles from the fifth inning on after tallying six hits two runs through the first four innings. They were just 1-7 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

They had a chance to score the tying run in the 9th against Twins closer Jhoan Duran when they had runners on first and third and one out. Geraldo Perdomo tried to lay down a bunt but popped out to the pitcher. Ketel Marte then worked the count full but on the 6th pitch of the at bat home plate umpire Vic Carapazza rang him on on a pitch well off the plate to end the game. Perhaps the most frustrating thing about the at bat was the fact that the pitch prior was closer to the strike zone but was called a ball.

After the game Torey Lovullo was once again at a loss to explain what's happening to his team. "I stand in front of the came every night and it's the same explanation. We like the tight games, we feel like when we're doing things right and playing our game and we can execute we can win baseball games, it's just we're not getting it done right now"

That's an understatement. Earlier today we broke down the Anatomy of a Slump, and tonight's game was just more of the same. The D-backs have lost four in a row, three of those being one run losses and are 9-22 since June 28th. They're now seven games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and any hopes of winning the division are fading away quickly. The only realistic chance they have to make the playoffs is likely through the wild card, but they have fallen 1.5 games behind in that race and are just a half game ahead of the Cubs.

Merrill Kelly pitched a very good game, giving the team a chance to win. In his six innings of work he allowed just two runs on six hits, one walk, and nine strikeouts. Both runs scored on solo homers however. In the bottom of the 3rd inning Jorge Polanco went down and got a fastball at the bottom of the zone and golfed it out just inside the right field foul pole. That tied the game up at 1-1, erasing the lead Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had provided with his second inning homer.

The only real mistake Kelly made was in the sixth inning. A cutter to Max Kepler didn't cut, staying in the middle of the zone. Kepler drilled it on a line just over the wall in right to tie it up. That was the second time Kelly gave up a one run lead as the D-backs had scratched out a run in the 4th to put Arizona up 2-1. Gurriel was hit by a pitch and bloop singles by Jake McCarthy and then Jose Herrera brought him in.

They'll try once again tomorrow to get their first win in Minnesota since 2014 when Ryne Nelson squares off against Kenta Maeda at 4:10 P.M. MST

This article first appeared on FanNation Inside The Diamondbacks and was syndicated with permission.

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