2-1 Loss Was the Worst of the D’backs’ Season
By Thomas Lynch
There can be no debate. Last night’s 2-1 defeat by the Arizona Diamondbacks at the hands of the San Francisco Giants was easily the roughest one suffered by the team this season. In fact, come October and if the D’backs miss the playoffs by a single game, this is the one we will point to as the culprit. I am having a hard time right now even formulating some coherent thoughts about it so if the words seem mangled or scattered, I apologize in advance.
Josh Wilson’s homer was the only run for the D’backs in their 2-1 loss to the Giants. Image: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Last night may end up being Trevor Cahill‘s best start of the season. Through eight innings, he allowed four measly baserunners, three hits and one walk on only 86 pitches. Josh Wilson accounted for the only run of the ball game with a solo home run in the eighth inning. At that point, I thought a 1-0 victory was in sight with only three outs to go. I mean how many times will Cahill throw eight shutout innings AND Wilson plate the only run in the same game? I mean, I have a better chance of winning Powerball and MegaMillions in the same week. This was a game THAT HAD to be won by the D’backs. We know how that turned out. J.J. Putz gave up the two-run homer to Pablo Sandoval, Arizona goes 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth and no one goes home (or shuts off the TV) happy.
I am not putting all the blame on Putz. Yes he stunk it up again but this could have been avoided. Kirk Gibson bears some of the blame. I will never understand why a manager lets a starting pitcher begin the ninth inning only to pull him once someone gets on base. He should have let Cahill finish the game unless the actual lead was lost or just take him out before the final frame started. I would have no problem with either decision although my preference would have been for him to complete the game. What made that call worse was that Gibby let Cahill hit in the bottom of the eighth. When the decision was made to keep the pitcher in the game, he should have been allowed to finish it. Once Angel Pagan led off the ninth with a single and the change was made, you knew something bad was going to happen. Enter Putz, exit Pagan from first base as he stole second which anyone watching the game could have seen coming. Miguel Montero did make the play very close with a great throw. After Marco Scutaro struck out, the inevitable happened. Once Sandoval’s ball cleared the fence, you could feel the energy being drained from Chase Field.
The D’backs remain a game back as we hit May. However, after last night’s contest it feels as though they are 10 out. Hopefully, this remains the worst loss of 2013. We can’t endure another one like it.
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