The streaking Arizona Diamondbacks got an unscheduled break on Thursday.
They’ll get back into action when they visit Detroit for a three-game weekend series, which begins Friday night.
Poor air quality forced the postponement of their game at Washington, D.C. Arizona took the first two games of what was supposed to be a three-game series. Overall, the Diamondbacks have won eight of their last 10 games.
In their latest contest, Arizona scored three first-inning runs and cruised to a 6-2 victory. The top three hitters in the lineup — Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll and Emmanuel Rivera — combined for 10 hits, all six runs and four RBIs.
Marte set the table in the first inning with a double.
“I think we made a statement early,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “Our guys were ready to counterpunch anything and Ketel, with that double into right-center field [to lead off the game], really made a statement that we’re ready to go.”
The team’s table setter has scored 38 runs in 58 games. He also has supplied 24 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs.
“He is such an impact player,” Lovullo said. “When he’s drawing walks – which he’s been doing for the past month – and slugging the baseball, he can just redirect the game in one swing. You have to take notice as to where he’s at when you’re game-planning against him.”
Merrill Kelly (7-3, 2.80 ERA), who was scheduled to pitch Thursday, will now open the series against the Tigers. The veteran right-hander has won six of his last seven starts, with a no-decision in the other outing.
Kelly has been racking up strikeouts along the way, fanning 47 in his last six starts. He gave up two solo homers to Atlanta last Friday, but those were the only runs he surrendered in seven innings.
“Having Merrill on the mound with his stuff, his mindset, his mentality — that dog mentality — it’s easy to feed off,” first baseman Christian Walker said. “When your guy is out there, putting himself on the line and coming through in big moments, you have to get him runs.”
Kelly is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in one start against Detroit.
Detroit starter Michael Lorenzen (2-2, 3.21 ERA) has posted five quality starts in his last six outings. He held the Chicago White Sox to one run and two hits in seven innings on Saturday. He is 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA in eight games (all in relief) vs. Arizona.
The injury-riddled Tigers have lost six straight, all on the road. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler took a no-hitter into the eighth inning on Thursday night. Tyler Nevin broke it up with a one-out single.
Detroit rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the ninth, only to blow it in the bottom of the frame in a 3-2 loss.
“We played well at the end,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “They played better at the end, and they got the last crack at it.”
The Tigers have scored just eight runs during the slide.
“It’s tough love when it comes to that. It’s not going to change,” Hinch said of the losing streak. “We’ve got to get ourselves together and create a little bit more momentum on our side. We’re a little beat up mentally and physically, but it’s the big leagues. We need to find a way.”
–Field Level Media
