Taijuan Walker and bullpen unsteady in Arizona Diamondbacks loss to Giants
By Trisha Garcia
Taijuan Walker and the Arizona Diamondbacks could not hold off the San Francisco Giants in the series finale
The Arizona Diamondbacks fell 7-2 to the San Francisco Giants in a rare shaky performance from both starter Taijuan Walker and the bullpen.
Walker worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning, but wouldn’t have the same luck when he loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth inning.
However, he did limit the damage to an RBI sac-fly to Pablo Sandoval before striking out two other batters.
But, again in the fifth inning, Walker loaded the bases with no outs on three straight singles. A run scored when he walked Austin Slater and another sac-fly would make the game 3-0.
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Despite J.D. Martinez hitting his 40th home run of the season, the Diamondbacks would never recover.
Chris Iannetta continued his recent hot streak at the plate with a single to start the sixth inning. Iannetta is batting .349 since August 20, not including 11 walks.
But, Jake Lamb hit into a double play to take Iannetta off the bases. In the same time frame, Lamb is batting .152 and he hasn’t hit a home run since August 20.
Luckily, Paul Goldschmidt and J.D. Martinez have an untamed chemistry in the lineup. Goldschmidt singled and Martinez homered to drive him in.
Jorge De La Rosa attempted to relieve Walker, but gave up a lead off homer to Pablo Sandoval to start the inning.
J.J. Hoover eventually replaced De La Rosa, but walked Mac Williamson which brought in T.J. McFarland.
McFarland closed the sixth inning and came back out for the seventh, where he loaded the bases with no outs. Jake Barrett replaced McFarland, but gave up a sac-fly and a force out.
The loss doesn’t necessarily hurt the Diamondbacks. The San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies to hold the Arizona Diamondbacks place in the Wild Card.
However, the status of the bullpen and Taijuan Walker’s tenure as a starter will be brought into question come October.
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