D-backs squander another one of Soroka's walk-free quality starts

CINCINNATI -- For the fourth time this season, Diamondbacks right-hander Michael Soroka didn’t walk a batter on Saturday afternoon. He has issued only 17 free passes in 81 innings.

Soroka attributes this mostly to a consistent delivery and an expanded arsenal of pitches that’s giving him the confidence to challenge hitters in the zone.

In a 2-1 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park, Soroka tied a season high with seven innings pitched, allowing one run on two hits with seven strikeouts over 93 pitches. His four quality starts since the beginning of May are tied for fourth most in MLB.

“When you feel like the hitter might not know what's coming, I feel a little bit more comfortable throwing balls completely over the plate,” Soroka said. “Last year, I think I ran into struggles, because I didn't have those extra pitches. And second, third time around, these guys were seeing the same two [pitches], four-seam, curveball, over and over again.”

Soroka leads the D-backs with eight wins, tied for the most among National League starters with the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski, the Braves’ Chris Sale and Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez.

Soroka seemed in line for a ninth victory on Saturday, but the Diamondbacks stranded 12 runners and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

“Frustrating, real frustrating,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “I think [the players] are frustrated, too. You walk through the clubhouse, they’re quiet. You need to create an awareness of what they need to improve on. It’s clear we’re grinding.”

Things started off well.

Corbin Carroll’s home run, his 12th of the season, came on Rhett Lowder’s first pitch with one out in the first inning to put the Diamondbacks ahead, 1-0.

Arizona had runners on second and third in the fifth, but Nolan Arenado’s comebacker was fielded by Lowder, who tossed to first for the final out.

“I’ve said it a million times, they’re too talented not to break through,” Soroka said. “It’s a long season. It’s going to happen in a big way. I know these guys are pressing a little bit and eventually we’ll get through that.”

Soroka allowed only two hits through the first five innings as both came in the third, when Matt McLain doubled and scored on rookie shortstop Edwin Arroyo’s single to tie the score at 1.

“The command was a little shakier than we would like early on, but I thought we did a good job making adjustments pretty quickly before they did,” Soroka said. “We always felt like we were one step ahead.”

The Diamondbacks missed a few big scoring chances against the Reds’ bullpen.

They loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but Chase Petty struck out Arenado and got Pavin Smith to fly to right. The D-backs had runners on second and third in the eighth, but again, Petty got the final two outs to keep the score tied.

“We had plenty of opportunities to do some damage today and just couldn’t get the job done,” Lovullo said.

Noelvi Marte’s go-ahead solo home run came on an 0-2 slider from Juan Morillo that hung out over the plate in the top of the eighth. Morillo struck out the side around Marte’s blast.

Reds right-hander Tony Santillan retired the Diamondbacks in order in the ninth for his third save. Petty got his first MLB win.

Cincinnati first baseman Spencer Steer made an outstanding defensive play, when he stretched to keep his foot on the bag to snare a wide throw from Arroyo for the second out and deny Arizona a chance to stage a rally.

The Diamondbacks have scored nine runs combined in Soroka’s five losses and two or fewer runs in seven of his starts, including Saturday.

“He did everything he could possibly do to keep us in the game,” Lovullo said. "He’s been on a great run. He’s executing two or three pitches. He can sequence the right way. We can depend on him to go out there and do the things he did. But I want to emphasize, we’re not one of 26, we’re 26 of 26, and it takes a team effort.”