Arizona Diamondbacks – extra-base hits doom Shipley

Braden Shipley, right-hander for the Arizona Diamondbacks, gave up five extra-hits of the seven hits allowed and seven runs

SAN DIEGO – After absorbing a loss to the New York Mets in his last outing, Branden Shipley, a right-hander for the Arizona Diamondbacks, said he would learn from that experience.

The learning curve maybe slight and short-lived. If Shipley wanted to repair to the drawing board and see what maladies occurred in his loss to the Mets, the education was slight. Hammered for four extra-bats which led to seven earned runs, Shipley did not survive the sixth inning, and eventually dropped a 9-1 decision to the San Diego Padres before 28,150 Sunday afternoon in Petco Park.

The defeat Shipley lowered his season mark of 2-3 and raised his ERA to 5.45. In his last two starts against the Mets and Padres, Shipley allowed 13 earned runs and went down with both defeats. For this four-game series, the Padres took 3-of-4, and now lead the season series 7-6 with six games remaining in 2016.

Afterward, Shipley indicated he felt strong and believed he had good fast ball command. The issue, he pointed out, was the Padres manage to hit just about everything he threw.

“Baseball is a funny game,” he said. “I could throw the same pitch in the same situation, and they could hit right to someone. These are big league hitters, and stuff happens.”

Despite getting a first strike to a majority of San Diego hitters and staying ahead in the count, Shipley feel victim to hard-hitting. In the San Diego third, he gave Travis Jankowski a belt-high fast ball on a 1-2 count, and Jankowski hammered a two-run shot into the right field bleachers. Then in the fifth, Shipley gave up a run-producing triple to Adam Rosales and a run-producing double to Luis Perdomo his opposing pitcher. That was Perdomo’s first major league RBI, and pushed the Padres out to a four-run lead.

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Later, Alex Dickerson, leading off the sixth, raised to advantage to 5-0 with his eighth homer of the season. Five of the seven hits yielded by Shipley were for extra bases, including two doubles, a triple and two home runs.

“The amount of extra base hits is not a concern,” Shipley said. “It’s the location. They took advantage of location, and (Sunday), I just got beat.”

During the afternoon, the Arizona Diamondbacks could not touch Perdomo. They managed only three scattered, harmless singles through the first six innings, and their only run was unearned. That came on a single by Phil Gosselin with one out in the seventh, who advanced to second on an error by Perdomo and to third on a fly ball. Gosselin then scored on an RBI single from Brandon Drury.

“(The Padres) hit the ball every well and outplayed us,” said manager Chip Hale. “We hit a few line drives, but they made all the plays. We couldn’t stop the damage.”

Notes from the trip

Before Sunday’s game in San Diego, manager Chip Hale gave a few updates.

First, Hale indicated the organization wants outfielder A. J. Pollock to play out a 20-day rehab period. Currently, he is Reno, and recovering from surgery to repair a fractured right elbow. For Pollock to play center-field in Chase Field before the end of current season, he must be moved from the 60-day disabled list and a roster spot made available. Progress is good for Pollock, Hale reports, but the manager pointed out logistical issues must be addressed.

Also, right-handed pitcher Rubby De La Rosa continues his rehab from right elbow inflammation. On the disabled list since late May, the Diamondbacks would like De La Rosa to return to the mound before season’s end. If that’s the case, the organization wants De La Rosa’s pitch count to reach 70 pitches.

Hale also pointed out that right-hander Shelby Miller will be back with the Arizona Diamondbacks before end of the season. That would mean Miller will likely wait until September 1. That’s when major league rosters expand from the season-mandated 25 to an expanded roster up to 40 players.

With season-ending surgery to shortstop Nick Ahmed, Hale said Chris Owings will get the majority of time, until the end of the season, at short. That means Jean Segura, a natural shortstop, will remain at second base. This points out the Diamondbacks’ desire to have Segura remain at second, and be ready to take that position again next season.

On Deck

Beginning Monday night, the Arizona Diamondbacks return to Chase Field for a seven-game home stand.

First in are the Atlanta Braves for four night games. On Monday night, it’s right-hander Zack Godley (4-3, 4.85 ERA) taking on righty Mike Foltynewicz (6-5, 4.45). On Tuesday night, look for Archie Bradley (4-8, 5.04) to face righty Rob Whalen (1-2, 5.73). For Wednesday night, Zack Greinke (11-4, 4.21) opposes righty Julio Teheran (2-3, 4.89). For the series finale Thursday night, Robbie Ray (7-11, 4.31) goes against righty Tyrell Jenkins (2-3, 4.89).

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Then, the Cincinnati Reds follow for a three-game weekend series.