ST. LOUIS – “We are struggling offensively,” manager Torey Lovullo said prior to Wednesday night’s matchup at Busch Stadium. “We’re working hard to change that, and we’ve created an awareness as to what our identity is. When we get guys on base and the right people are up, we’re gonna slug and put up some crooked numbers.”
A few hours later, the D-backs found their groove(r).
LuJames Groover blasted his first career home run in the bottom of the fourth inning of Arizona’s 9-4 victory. It was the first of back-to-back homers with Ketel Marte that put the exclamation point on a six-run frame, with all six runs scoring with two outs. Ildemaro Vargas turned on the tap for the Diamondbacks with a two-run double just ahead of Groover’s shot.
“It was a good moment for this ballclub,” Lovullo said postgame from the same spot in his office. “We’ve been used to seeing those things happen, and I think last night was definitely a catalyst for these good results today.”
“Every day is an opportunity to go out there, just really try and have good ABs,” added Groover. “Bring guys in when the opportunity presents itself, turn the lineup over, things like that. I walked a couple times today. Just being able to get the lineup back over to Ketel, especially, a lot of good things can happen there.”
With the homer and two walks, Groover reached base safely three times in a single game for the first time in his Major League career. His two runs scored also represented a doubling of his young career output to date.
Groover was not the only rookie to make an impact in Wednesday’s win. Mitch Bratt, called up to make his Major League debut ahead of the game, tossed a strong three innings while working under the auspices of a limited pitch count. He allowed just one earned run on two hits and struck out three while issuing two walks.
“Mitch was fantastic,” Lovullo raved. “We were hoping maybe he could touch the fourth, but at that point, [Ryan Thompson] did a great job throwing two innings, two quality innings.”
Nolan Arenado also doubled and scored for the D-backs, continuing his strong return to St. Louis. He had a hit and an RBI in each of the first two games of the series, and is carrying a three-game streak of standing ovations that have required him to acknowledge the home crowd prior to his first plate appearance of the game.
Roster decisions made earlier in the day on Wednesday highlighted the importance of Groover and the rest of the lineup finding ways to kick the offense into gear. The D-backs opted to designate veteran slugger Carlos Santana for assignment after activating him from the injured list, and Lovullo cited the production of the team’s younger hitters among the reasons his club felt comfortable moving on from a hitter with that much experience.
Groover's growth – even over a small sample size of just two games – offers a glimpse into that thought process and lends credence to the belief that the younger hitters who have earned their way to the Majors over the preceding weeks can do enough to stay there.
“I’ve pretty much been hitting the ball hard. Just got to get it off the ground, I would say,” Groover explained. “We’re in the big leagues. Big league defenders, they’re better. That’s just the way it is. They may have more range, they make more plays. Just trying to tweak some little things, get the ball off the ground a little bit, just keep the same swing. For the most part, I felt really relaxed and comfortable up there.”
Wednesday was just the ninth time in the season’s first 80 games that the D-backs scored nine or more runs. The big early inning may have been what broke the dam, but the continued pressure throughout the game allowed the Snakes to force the issue and provide a little padding for a pitching staff that was prepared to absorb the blow of a planned shorter start.
Sometimes, the simplest path to solving a baseball problem is to slug straight through it, and the feel of the ball on the barrel came frequently enough for Arizona's hitters that their manager feels they're in a position to keep progressing.
“We know that we have a bunch of really offensive-minded players,” Lovullo said. “Some have had that experience, some are creating their first opportunities, but the standard is to go and have quality at bats, driving the baseball, and impact the baseball game. I don’t care if you’re a young player or not. Everyone has that responsibility.”
On Wednesday, it was met.