PHOENIX -- For the first time in four starts since moving from the bullpen to the rotation, D-backs right-hander Randall Delgado had a subpar outing.
Delgado allowed three first-inning runs and four overall in five innings as the D-backs fell, 8-6, to the Brewers on Friday night at Chase Field.
First-inning runs are nothing new for the Brewers, who lead the Majors with 60 runs in the opening frame of games.
"I thought Randall was OK," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "He had the difficult first inning against a team that's been very good over the past month in the first inning. The pitch counts were very consistent in the high teens, and he was only able to give us five innings. Tried to patch the bullpen together to limit some of the offensive damage."
After allowing a two-run double to Manny Pina and a run-scoring double to Jonathan Villar in the first, Delgado did not allow another run until Hernan Perez hit a solo homer in the fifth.
"I think I was just missing my spots. I thought as a consequence, I gave up the three runs," Delgado said. "I think it was just a couple of mistakes in the first inning. I tried to rally. I was trying to go as long as I could."
Delgado entered the game with a 1.80 ERA as a starter. With injured pitcher Taijuan Walker expected to rejoin the rotation soon, the D-backs will need to make room for him. The team could decide to send Zack Godley back to Triple-A Reno, despite the fact that he has pitched well, or move Delgado back to the bullpen.
At least for now, it doesn't sound like that's going to happen.
"I think at this point, we haven't had the discussion," Lovullo said of moving Delgado back to the 'pen. "We'll probably continue talking about this as the next couple of days move on. But I think we're looking at Randall as a guy that can stay in the starting rotation.
"I know that today wasn't his best outing, but like I said in the pregame, I know there's going to be these moments for every starting pitcher. We're not going to just run over one bad start and say that's it. I think we deserve to continue seeing what Randall can do."