D-backs' woes with runners in scoring position continue in opener vs. Astros

HOUSTON -- The Diamondbacks were hopeful that a day off Thursday would serve as a recharge day.

A reset with 21 games left in the regular season.

“We talk about a season being a marathon, well, now we’re in the sprint,” James McCann said prior to Friday’s game against Houston. “Now the end of the marathon is coming, and this is where you’ve got to turn it on.”

Arizona had just come off a hard-fought series against the Phillies -- losing two of three but salvaging the series finale.

The D-backs had scored just three runs over 26 innings against the Phillies and went 0-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

Arizona had hoped a day of much-needed rest is exactly what the doctor called for to mend their offensive woes.

But it was more of the same in a 3-1 loss to the Astros on Friday night, when the Diamondbacks struck out a season-high tying 13 times.

“We’ve got to get back to some of our principles,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “I know these pitchers at this level have really good stuff, and I want to be respectful, but I believe in our hitters to stand on the things they know they’re good at.”

The lone run came off the bat of Gabriel Moreno via his fourth-inning solo blast on an 0-1 cutter from Cristian Javier. It was Moreno’s 12th homer of the season and 68th RBI.

Moreno has now hit safely in nine of his past 10 road games, going 12-for-37 (.324) for the D-backs with four homers and 11 RBIs in that stretch.

Outside of that, Arizona batters could not figure out Javier, who struck out eight over his five innings.

The D-backs did have their chances though, including getting runners in scoring position throughout the evening thanks in big part to drawing seven walks.

A walk and stolen base by Geraldo Perdomo in the third inning put a runner in scoring position, but Corbin Carroll struck out.

In the sixth, Nolan Arenado grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded -- which came off a pair of walks and a double.

An inning later, with runners on first and second, one reaching via a walk, Carroll popped out to shortstop to end the top of the frame. Carroll went 0-for-4 on Friday and is now 3-for-40 (.075 average) with 14 strikeouts at the plate since Aug. 24.

“We’re in it with him,” Lovullo said about the stretch for Carroll. “I know the three hitting coaches are rowing the boat with him. Every one of his teammates, every one of his other coaches are all behind him. We know that he’s grinding right now.

“We’re going to continue to believe in him and push him in the right direction.”

In the eighth with Moreno -- who drew a walk -- on second, Ketel Marte hit a grounder that bounced right to Jeremy Peña at short. Moreno was tagged out trying to get back to the bag, and then Peña threw Marte out at first for a double play.

The Diamondbacks are now 0-for-21 with runners in scoring position over their past four games, in which they have scored just one run apiece.

“We know that every detail of a game matters and we’re trying to win inches on the field,” Lovullo said. “Somebody’s going to come up and slug it at the right time, and it’s going to open the floodgates for that particular game.”

Arizona will look to get back on track and even the series against Houston on Saturday when Brandon Pfaadt takes the bump. Arizona is 10-2 in his past 12 starts.

“Not panic,” Lovullo said about looking forward. “Continue to spread the message, let coaches coach, let players play, and where they need direction, make sure there’s guardrails to pull them back in.

“We go out there with a focused intent every single night, we’ll just be fine.”