‘We’re all frustrated’: D-backs’ funk persists in 5th straight loss

PHOENIX — Baseball is a tricky sport to make sense of. It’s a sport that generally defies logic and leaves gamers, coaches, managers and front-office executives attempting to clarify the unexplainable.

Take the present struggles of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Positive, you possibly can level to a bullpen meltdown in Monday night time’s 10-6 loss to the Cardinalshowever this troubling stretch of baseball for the D-backs has additionally included struggles by the offense. Even their often dependable protection has allow them to down at occasions.

Since July 1, after they had been 16 video games above the .500 mark, the D-backs have gone 4-13. In that span, they went from being in first place within the National League West — three video games forward of the Dodgers — to tied for second, 4 video games again.

Monday’s loss was their fifth in a row, they usually have misplaced 9 of their final 11.

If the season ended in the present day, the D-backs would qualify for the playoffs, however they’re reeling proper now they usually comprehend it.

“Look, we’re all pissed off,” D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo mentioned. “We all know what is going on on. Each single day we struggle. The trouble is there. We simply have not received baseball video games on the charge that we need to. That is a part of a baseball season. That is what occurs within the baseball season. Lately occur to good groups each single 12 months, and each time you bought to have some type of response. And tomorrow is our alternative to play our best sport. That is what I am gonna have a look at.”

The D-backs confirmed loads of struggle in opposition to the Cardinals. After falling behind, 5-2, in opposition to Adam Wainwright by 5 innings, they managed to rally for 2 runs within the sixth and one other two within the seventh to take a 6-5 lead.

They carried that into the ninth, when Andrew Chafin got here on to shut issues out. Chafin is considered one of a trio of relievers that Lovullo has blended and matched late within the sport, with Scott McGough and Miguel Castro additionally getting alternatives.

It wasn’t Chafin’s night time, although, because the Cardinals put up 5 runs — all charged to Chafin — in opposition to him and Kevin Ginkel.

“I wasn’t executing pitches to the diploma I used to be attempting to,” Chafin mentioned. “So I assume you simply sum it as much as poor execution in a nutshell. Going for too many punchouts, I believe, and ended up strolling guys, and we noticed what occurred. It is the [worst] potential time to implode like that. We had the crew on the ropes and it was my job to close it down, and I did not get it finished.”

Chafin’s frustration was evident, as was Lovullo’s. The clubhouse was silent within the aftermath, some gamers sitting and staring into their lockers, nonetheless processing the sport.

“I believe you possibly can inform the temper is fairly somber,” veteran third baseman Evan Longoria mentioned.

Longoria, who was signed as a free agent within the offseason, has change into an necessary voice within the clubhouse, dishing out the knowledge that comes from 16 years within the large leagues.

“The problem is, when issues get unhealthy like this, is to not blame others,” Longoria mentioned. “Not to have a look at your teammates and begin to single guys out or single teams out and say, you understand, ‘I am doing my job, however so and so or these individuals are not doing their job.’ That is sort of the dying spiral of a crew.

“And so that is the problem proper now, is to not try this. Proceed to place religion and perception within the guys which might be going to the plate in entrance [of] and behind you and the fellows which might be going out on the mound. That is actually all you are able to do.”