Eight-run 7th guides D-backs to series win

August 13th, 2020

The trip to Coors Field seems to have gotten the D-backs’ offense going, something they had been looking to do since Opening Day.

The D-backs scored 32 runs in the three-game series, saving their best performance for Wednesday afternoon’s 13-7 win, and they headed home having taken two of three from the Rockies.

That left the D-backs in a good mood postgame, something they will take with them into their off-day Thursday, before starting a three-game series with the Padres at Chase Field on Friday.

“It’s been rough, this start for us,” said outfielder . “But it doesn’t surprise me the way we did things this series, because that’s the type of offense we have. I’m really excited. Everything is going our way, we’ve got to keep going. We need a day off, [then] we’re going to come Friday and do the same thing and score as many runs as we can and work as a team.”

There were offensive standouts up and down the lineup, with eight of the nine players collecting at least one hit. The 32 runs tied for the most the D-backs have scored in a three-game series at Coors Field.

Peralta had a key three-run double during an eight-run seventh that put the game away, while collected four RBIs.

“I thought there were a lot of really good approaches offensively,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “You know, several guys with multiple hits.”

While Arizona may have the offense humming, it now needs to find a way to get right-handed starter back to the pitcher he was for the first six weeks of 2019.

Especially with on the injured list and still trying to find his rhythm on the mound, Weaver pitching well becomes even more important for the D-backs.

Weaver lasted just 3 1/3 innings Wednesday, giving up four runs on six hits, and has yet to make it through five innings this season.

In Weaver’s last start against the Padres, Lovullo had planned before the game to pull him after just three innings. The idea was to build him up both his strength and his confidence by not pushing him until he ran into trouble.

Wednesday, Lovullo did not have a set number of innings for Weaver, but instead said he wanted to see a progression.

“I know we're just going off the last one,” Weaver said. “There wasn't much talk, it was just me focused on trying to go out there and go as long as I can. There's a mentality of just trying to go one pitch at a time, especially right now. We try to simplify it, try to win each pitch, and then next thing you know you're at a certain pitch count and it is what it is. 

“But that's in the back of my mind. I'm just trying to go out there and compete and do the best I can, and if they take the ball, they take the ball. I expected to try to go at least get to five, you know, if not four and just try to push the threshold every time.”

Weaver had allowed one run on four hits through three innings Wednesday, and Lovullo said he had “earned the right” to go out for the fourth inning.

That’s when the outing started to come apart for Weaver, as he allowed a one-out walk, a single and then a three-run homer on a 3-0 pitch to Ryan McMahon.

“I blame myself a little bit,” Lovullo said of pushing Weaver into the fourth. “I thought Luke was good, and then it just kind of unraveled over the course of about six pitches. But we're going to continue the same course, and I think he built on what he did the last time. And I think he'll do the same moving forward. So we'll group up the staff, we'll sit down, we'll talk about it and figure out what the next thought is for him.”