Miley Pitches Well, But Errors Hurt In Dbacks Loss

Aug 16, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Wade Miley (36) throws against the Miami Marlins in the third inning at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Diamondbacks had plenty of blame to go around after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Marlins at Marlins Park. The bats stayed silent, and the Dbacks played one of the ugliest games in franchise history. Errors from Jake Lamb, starter Wade Miley, Ender Inciarte, Mark Trumbo, and Cliff Pennington costed the Snakes the game.

It should be noted that the decisive run in the seventh inning was changed from an error to Pennington, to the second earned run for Miley, and an RBI for Jeff Mathis. With Marcell Ozuna on third, the Dbacks played their infield in trying to prevent the winning run from scoring. Mathis tapped to short, and Pennington threw wide of Montero at home. It was originally ruled a fielders choice and an E6 on Penny.

Despite playing sloppy all game long, the Diamondbacks were in the game for all nine innings thanks to a great performance from starter Wade Miley. Miley went seven innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits. He really backed up his defense, and kept his team in the game. He also struck out nine while walking just one, and he kept the ball in the ballpark which is always a big key for him.

Miley really worked his magic in the second inning, despite committing an error himself. First, third basemen Jake Lamb’s throw pulled Trumbo off the bag for error number one. Then Trumbo couldn’t corral a pickoff throw to first from Miley, and Trumbo was charged with the error. Finally center-fielder Ender Inciarte threw wild to home plate missing the cutoff man allowing a runner to take an extra base. This accounted for the third error of the inning. Miley struck out Casey McGehee, Marcell Ozuna, and Jeff Mathis,  and the Marlins didn’t score.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was only the sixth time in the last 20 years that a team committed three errors without allowing a run to score. Miley did a great job keeping his composure, and picking up his teammates. He should have thrown less pitches, but errors will drive up the pitch count.

Meanwhile, Miley didn’t get a whole lot of run support as the Snakes bats stayed silent. The Dbacks got their lone run on a sac fly in the first. The team opened the game with three straight singles against Marlins starter Henderson Alvarez, but only scored one run. The Dbacks might have had another run but the Snakes were to aggressive on the base paths and it costed them. Peralta singled, and third base coach Glenn Sherlock decided to send Inciarte home. Ozuna threw home and catcher Jeff Mathis tagged him out rather easily.

The Marlins evened up the game at one in the fourth on a Jeff Baker RBI triple.

The Dbacks and Marlins conclude their four game series this morning with Josh Collmenter starting for Arizona, and Tom Koehler starting for Miami. Arizona is looking to split the four game series.