3 D-backs takeaways: Lovullo, Ahmed, Marte

PHOENIX -- Too much Corey Seager and too little offense spelled trouble for the D-backs as they fell, 3-0, to the Dodgers on Sunday afternoon at Chase Field.

• Box score

Seager homered twice, once in the first and then again in the third. Trea Turner added a homer of his own right after Seager in the first.

Meanwhile, the Arizona offense could do little against Dodgers starter Julio Urías and a parade of relievers.

With the loss, the D-backs finished the homestand 2-5 and now take to the road where they will open a three-game series with the Giants on Tuesday night.

Here's a look a three developments from the homestand:

1. Torey will be back in 2022
The D-backs ended any speculation about manager Torey Lovullo when general manager Mike Hazen announced Thursday morning that Lovullo was being given a contract extension through 2022 with a club option for 2023.

By doing it with time still left in the season, Lovullo has the opportunity to have discussions with some of his veteran players about any changes that may need to be made for next year.

"I’m excited to have him back and just not have so much unknown going into the offseason," shortstop Nick Ahmed said. "He and I and some other people have had a lot of conversations about how we can get our team and our organization better. Without knowing he's coming back, it's hard to really fully dive deep into that. Knowing that he's coming back, we're going to have further conversations. I just have a bunch of ideas to share on things we can do better. Hopefully, we'll get those things operating and we'll be in a better spot next year."

2. Ahmed is done for the season
Ahmed's left shoulder has bothered him on and off again since 2020 Summer Camp, and even with the D-backs not having anything left to play for at this point in the season, the veteran had been trying to do everything in his power to get back on the field.

On Sunday, though, the D-backs placed Ahmed on the injured list, ending his 2021 season.

That move allowed Arizona to call up shortstop Geraldo Perdomo from Triple-A Reno. The 20-year-old Perdomo is ranked as the No. 9 prospect in the D-backs’ system, according to MLB Pipeline.

Perdomo, who made a brief appearance in the big leagues in April, was in the starting lineup Sunday and went 1-for-3 with a walk. He also made a nice defensive play in the hole at short.

Lovullo said that Perdomo will get significant playing time over the final games of the season.

3. It looks like second base could be Marte's spot in 2022
After moving Ketel Marte back and forth between second base and center field the previous two seasons, the D-backs played him primarily in center through the first five months of the season.

Marte, though, began dropping hints, according to Lovullo, that he would like to get some time at second. Marte started six times at second in the homestand and seemed comfortable at the position.

As the season winds down, Marte is picking things up at the plate again and he finished the homestand with a .360 batting average to go along with four doubles and a home run.

Hazen said that they will likely settle on one position for Marte in 2022 and it would not be a surprise to have it be second base.