The Arizona Diamondbacks will look to take out some frustrations when they return to Phoenix to begin a six-game homestand Monday, opening with three against the Baltimore Orioles.
Arizona lost a pair one-run games in a three-game series at Washington over the weekend, and right-hander Corbin Burnes struggled in the finale. He walked four and gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings of a 5-4 loss, and his outing typified the Diamondbacks’ weekend.
“I think he was battling some frustration,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “I think we all are right now. It’s the nature of the game. It is where we are at. We have to find a way to win the 50-50 ball. That’s really what it comes down to.”
Arizona’s inconsistency on defense also has proved annoying for a team that takes pride in making the makeable play.
“And that’s what really eats at me,” Lovullo said. “We talk about that space. We talk about living in that environment with high-intensity practice, and then going out and executing it. We’re going to be fine when we make it fine. It’s going to take some work and some execution.”
The Orioles lost two of three on the road to the Kansas City Royals, the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last season.
Ryan Mountcastle had three of Baltimore’s five hits in a 4-1 loss Sunday. Jorge Mateo started in center field for the first time in nearly a year, and his misplay on a ball hit by Bobby Witt Jr. that wound up as a triple triggered the Royals’ three-run first inning.
Baltimore has used a different batting order in all 10 of its games, in part because Gunnar Henderson missed the first seven and Colton Cowser has missed the past six due to injuries.
“Usually it’s depending on the starting pitcher and kind of where we’re at,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said of his fluctuating lineups. “But probably settle in a little bit more now that Gunnar’s here.”
Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (1-1, 3,38 ERA) enters on a high. He tied a career high with 13 strikeouts in a 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday, when he gave up three hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings.
“The biggest thing for me is always my delivery,” said Gallen, who gave up four runs in four innings and took the 10-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Opening Day. “I think when my delivery is in the right spot and I’m on time and the tempo is good … everything should be around the zone, everything should be moving late.”
Gallen is 1-1 in two career starts against the Orioles. He got the win last May 12 when he gave up two runs and four hits in six innings of a 9-2 road victory.
Baltimore’s Zach Eflin (1-1, 3.75 ERA) has made two quality starts this season but is coming off a 3-0 loss to Boston the last time out. He has walked one in 12 innings.
He is 0-2 with a 3.18 ERA against the Diamondbacks in five appearances (four starts) but has faced them only once since 2019.
Eugenio Suarez, who has five homers and 11 RBIs on the season, is hitless in 12 plate appearances against Eflin, with one sacrifice fly for an RBI and seven strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
