The Diamondbacks bullpen failed to finish the job in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Inheriting a one-run lead with just six outs to get, a ninth-inning blown save set the stage for the Cubs to come from behind and win on a walk-off walk.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Before getting into any criticism of manager Torey Lovullo’s bullpen choices, it’s important to establish the situation he found himself in. The Diamondbacks had to use Kevin Ginkel, Justin Martinez, Ryan Thompson, and Paul Sewald to win the series’ first two games. That left three of those four pitchers unavailable for the game.
“We got to remember it’s a long season,” Lovullo told Dbacks TV reporter Jody Jackson in the postgame coverage. “We’re going to have some grinding days ahead, so we need those guys to stay healthy and be strong.”
Following Brandon Pfaadt’s seven dominant innings, Lovullo sent out right-hander Bryce Jarvis with a 1-0 lead in the eighth. Jarvis, who has struggled with command at points this season, managed to work around a one-out walk to Dansby Swanson to log a zero.
Then came the fated ninth inning. At this point, the only options for the Diamondbacks were either to ask Jarvis for a six-out save, bring in left-hander Joe Mantiply to face a string of right-handed hitters, or have Justin Martinez pitch for the third time in as many days. Lovullo ultimately chose Martinez.
The flamethrowing right-hander surrendered a double to Nico Hoerner on the inning’s first pitch. Following a ground out, Seiya Suzuki ripped a ground ball through a drawn-in infield to tie the game for the Cubs.
“We talked about J Mart’s availability, we felt comfortable and confident that he was going to be able to give us that last inning if needed,” said Lovullo. “It fell on him, and he was close to doing his job. Unfortunately, he just couldn’t close it.”
The Diamondbacks manager was asked if his considered going with Mantiply in that spot. He’s no stranger to saving a one-run game, having done so on May 3, 2022, against the Miami Marlins, but it’s also a tough ask with the right-hand heavy lineup the Cubs have. Of the first five hitters, only one was left-handed.
“There’s some tough matchups for him in there,” said Lovullo. “I trust Joe, I’ve seen him go out there and get lefties and righties out, but I was saving him for a particular situation. It didn’t quite arise. Joe is a very trusted reliever and he’s gotten big outs for us, but J Mart was the target, he was the guy, and I thought he deserved the opportunity.”
The Diamondbacks sent Mantiply out for the 10th. With a base open in a tie game, they elected to intentionally walk the right-handed hitting Dansby Swanson and bring up Miguel Amaya to the plate. Amaya dropped a perfect bunt and beat the throw to first to load the bases. Mantiply got Pete Crow-Armstrong to fly out weakly to left field to hold the runners at their bases.
Facing the same part of the order that came up in the ninth inning, Lovullo went to the right-handed throwing Humberto Castellanos. Castellanos did have some recent experience pitching in a bases-loaded mess in extra innings, but that came with a two-run lead against San Diego. In a tied game, any slip-up would be the end of the game.
Castellanos couldn’t get the handle on his pitches, falling behind 3-0 to Hoerner before landing his first strike. He missed up and in on the next pitch, forcing home the winning run for the Cubs.
“The pitches were close, and there was very little wiggle room. He’s a strike-thrower, that’s why he was the guy I chose. Unfortunately, he didn’t land the pitches where he wanted to.”
Diamondbacks can’t finish off Cubs, lose 2-1 in extra innings
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Michael McDermott covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @MichaelMcDMLB
