LOS ANGELES -- D-backs utilityman Daniel Descalso was an unlikely candidate to hit a three-run homer off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen when he stepped to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning Tuesday night.
"I haven't had any success against him," Descalso said. "A lot of swing and misses and foul balls. I think I only put the ball in play like once in 10 times against him. Maybe not that many, but it felt like that."
Descalso was actually close. Heading into that at-bat he was 0-for-7 with six strikeouts.
"So I was just trying to get him in the zone," Descalso said. "He fell behind and then I felt like he was going to challenge me so I just tried to be short to the ball and get on top of it and I was able to drive it to right field."
Descalso's ball landed in the seats in right and pulled the D-backs to within 4-3, the score they would eventually lose by.
Jansen has been among the best closers in baseball this year. The run he gave up Tuesday -- the other two runs that scored were put on by Brandon Morrow -- was just the fourth earned run he had allowed in 34 2/3 innings.
Much like former Major Leaguer Mariano Rivera, Jansen's success is built on a cut fastball which he throws almost exclusively. Despite hitters knowing that it's coming they can't do much with it.
"To me, it doesn't end up where you think it's going to go," Descalso said of the cutter. "Most guys' cutters have a little down action. His seems to explode on you, like it's hard to get on top of it. You see a lot guys get underneath, foul it straight back, pop it up. It has good life. I call it like a magical pitch. I don't know ... it seems to not end up where you think it's going to end up."
Hoover getting closer
Reliever J.J. Hoover, who is on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, threw a bullpen session and D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said the team will decide in the coming days what the next step will be for him.
Rotation rumblings
The D-backs will start Zack Greinke, Taijuan Walker and Patrick Corbin in the three-game series against the Reds just prior to the All-Star Break.
Lovullo said the team will likely re-order the rotation for the second half.