D-backs to 'turn the page' after frustrating loss

April 21st, 2019

CHICAGO -- Wrigley Field has not been very hospitable to the D-backs in 2019 so they were likely more than happy to be bidding it farewell following a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Cubs Sunday afternoon.

The D-backs won the middle game of the three-game set, but had to deal with frigid temps and a near 30-mph wind when they dropped the opening game thanks in part to a wind-aided double.

Sunday, it was an emergency-swing double just over the bag at first by Javier Baez, which turned into a triple when Adam Jones couldn’t field the carom off the brick wall and a David Bote single that sealed their fate.

“It’s frustrating, extremely frustrating,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’re dealing with that right now. I know that we lost two of three here, which is frustrating. I think the first night we can throw out because the elements may have been in our head a little bit. But I was proud of the way these guys fought today.”

The D-backs trailed 1-0 heading into the ninth thanks to a Baez triple in the sixth that brought home Anthony Rizzo.

The ball dropped in right-center just outside of the reach of center fielder Jarrod Dyson, who felt like he could have made the play had he not been worried about the brick wall in the outfield.

“If there was some padding out there, I probably would have ran all the way into [the wall],” Dyson said. “Knowing that it’s brick out there, you want to just stick an arm out and try not to hurt yourself for the remainder of the season. It’s unfortunate. I’m mad I didn’t come up with that play.”

It was Dyson who tied the game with one out in the ninth with a solo homer to right off Cubs closer Pedro Strop.

The D-backs turned to Archie Bradley, who is still trying to rediscover the dominant form he had in 2017, and Baez worked him for five pitches before hitting the sixth -- a 97 mph fastball at the outside bottom part of the strike zone down the line.

Jones, who earlier this year misplayed a ball off a carom at Dodger Stadium by trying to pick it up barehanded, used his glove this time, but the ball popped out of it allowing Baez to go to third.

“I just booted it,” Jones said. “Just booted it. There’s really no explanation.”

Bradley then hit Willson Contreras with a pitch before Bote came up with the game-winning single.

“Baez was late on a heater,” Bradley said. “He normally pulls balls and he shoots one down the line, it hits the bag, an unlucky bounce, ends up getting to third. I was just trying to make quality pitches to Bote and trying to strike him out and not allow him to get a hit, but he did and that’s the game. I gave up the run, it sucks, it’s part of it, I hate to lose a game, I promise you no one likes losing, I definitely don’t like it, it sucks, but shower up and move on.”

The D-backs now head to Pittsburgh where they will finish up their 10-game road trip with a four-game series against the Pirates.

“We’ve got to digest it and turn the page,” Lovullo said.