Postgame Recap (7/19/17) – D-backs 3, Reds 4: Tough Night Gets Tougher as D-Backs Lose in Extras

It was a night that seemed like nothing was going the Diamondbacks way. Zack Greinke just wasn’t himself early in tonight’s game. He was at 65 pitches through just three innings, after giving up two hits and a run in the 1st inning and then a solo home run to Zack Cozart — his second in the series — in the bottom of the 3rd.

The D-backs offense scratched out a run in the top of the 3rd inning on doubles by Jeff Mathis and David Peralta. After A.J. Pollock singled to put runners on the corners, Jake Lamb struck out swinging to end the scoring threat. The D-backs were down 2-1 heading into the 4th inning. And that’s when the unthinkable happened.

After Paul Goldschmidt singled, J.D. Martinez came up to bat — his second trip to the plate in the game — with a chance to do some damage. With two strikes, Martinez attempted to check his swing on a 91 mph fastball that was high and slightly inside. The ball nailed him on his left hand, just under the knob of the bat, causing him to grimace in pain.

For D-backs fans, it was a nightmare scenario.

Martinez was called out on strikes and subsequently removed from the game. X-rays came back negative and he was diagnosed with a left hand contusion. He is considered day-to-day.

And breathe.

The Reds added a run in the bottom of the 4th on two singles and a walk by Greinke, giving them a brief 3-1 lead. Peralta homered in the top of the fifth, followed by a run-scoring double by Lamb to drive in Pollock, who singled after the Peralta home run.

The bullpen, led by Jorge De La Rosa and Archie Bradley, really did a great job in relief of the laboring Greinke. The score would remain tied as the game headed into extra innings.

T.J. McFarland came on in relief in the 11th inning and gave up a one out single to Billy Hamilton. It was a hit — like most of the singles hit by the speedster Hamilton — that may as well have been a triple. Cozart then hammered a line drive to right-center field that bounced over the wall right as Hamilton was rounding third base to score what would have been the winning run.

With runners on second and third, the D-backs issued an intentional walk to Joey Votto. For a moment it looked like the D-backs might just get out of the jam. It was not to be as Adam Duvall singled to drive in the winning run (box score).

Stats that matter

• Zack Greinke struggled all night and was fortunate to have only surrendered three runs – 5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 3 Ks, HR
• David Peralta was the player of the game for the D-backs – 3-for-5, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR
• A.J. Pollock held his own tonight as well – 2-for-5, 1 R

Bottom line

The Diamondbacks once again struggled with runner’s in scoring position tonight, finishing 2-for-8. Scoring three runs while playing the Reds at The Launching Pad is not a formula for victory. Normally, with Greinke on the mound you’d have a chance when scoring so few runs. But tonight was not a great night for the D-backs ace.

If there’s one positive take away, it’s that Martinez escaped without a serious injury. That, my friends, could’ve been devastating.

On deck

The D-backs close out the series against the Reds on Thursday at 9:35 am MT. Taijaun Walker (6-4, 3.61 ERA) will match up against Luis Castillo (1-2, 3.41 ERA) as the D-backs attempt to take the rubber game in this three-game series.