Another blown opportunity for Arizona Diamondbacks in loss to Cardinals

Merrill Kelly’s pitch count was driven up in the first inning, leaving after 29 pitches and giving up one earned run on three hits. He settled in at first after that rough first inning, until the seventh inning didn’t go well for Kelly. After giving up a single to Alec Burleson and walking Nolan Arenado, Kelly gave up a double to Jordan Walker that scored both Burleson and Arenado.

Jalen Beeks entered soon after and St. Louis made it a 4-1 game. Kelly had a chance to get to 59 wins, which he would overtake Curt Schilling for the third-most wins in franchise history. Randy Johnson has 118 wins, Brandon Webb has 87, and Kelly and Schilling are tied with 58 wins.

The D-Backs struck late after Matthew Liberatore had a stellar outing, and had another win within their grasp. In the eighth inning, the Snakes came alive. Josh Naylor hit one to right field that got past Jordan Walker that tied the game up.

Soon after, Randal Grichuk hit a pop fly that surely looked to be the end of the inning, but dropped into center field after a massive miscommunication. Josh Naylor ended up walking past home plate and gave the D-Backs a 5-4 lead.

Heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, Justin Martinez made his return for Arizona. The bullpen problems continued again, Martinez’s debut might have been rushed as he gave up two earned runs on two hits in an inning pitched. St. Louis took the lead 6-5 which would be the eventual score on Saturday as the Cardinals take the series over the Diamondbacks.

Arizona has now lost their second series in a row, in frustrating fashion. The D-Backs will try to avoid the sweep tomorrow at Busch Gardens.