Record 8-11. Change on 2025: -0.5. 5-inning record: 4-13-2.
A new record-holder for the worst margin of defeat this spring, the Arizona pitching staff giving up 14 hits and two walks. To be fair, there were four unearned runs, resulting from errors by Pavin Smith and Kevin Ginkel. But even nine earned runs… is not good. Philip Abner was the only pitcher to go an inning without allowing an earned run. Elsewhere, it was more or less rough outings all over the place. Thomas Hatch allowed five runs over two innings, while both Ryan Thompson and Ginkel gave up two. Ryne Nelson ended up – with the help of some up/downs – going 3.1 innings, and was charged with three runs on two hits (both homers) and a walk. He did strike out four.
The Diamondbacks actually took the lead, on Ildemaro Vargas’s debut home-run of spring in the first inning, and added a second in the second, after loading the bases with no outs. Junior Franco’s groundout scored Aramis Garcia with the second run. But a messy double-play – first baseman to second baseman to catcher to pitcher to second baseman to shortstop Jacob Wilson to first baseman, Óscar Mercado out at home – summed up the day. Arizona managed only five hits and two walks, with a pair of knocks for Vargas. Corbin Carroll, in his hamate-less return, went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. But he’s back, and that’s the main thing.
Tomorrow, it’s the Rockies at Salt River Fields, though it is theoretically a “road” game for the Diamondbacks. Taylor Clarke is the scheduled starting pitcher.
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