Diamondbacks sweep Marlins
He pitches 7 shutout innings, striking out 6
The Diamondbacks mounted their lone rally off Marlins starter Dan Straily in the fifth inning. Nick Ahmed led off the inning with a single, Jarrod Dyson followed with a walk, and Straily curiously walked Diamondbacks starter Matt Koch on four pitches while he squared to bunt each time.
The next batter, Daniel Descalso, pulled a ground ball to first base to score Ahmed. It was a rather uneventful run, but it was all Koch would need in the game.
Koch pitched seven shutout innings in Sunday’s 6-1 win over the Miami Marlins, piling up a career-high six strikeouts and allowing just two hits as the Diamondbacks registered their first series sweep since April 2-4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field.
But for Koch, the outing went beyond helping his team get a win. It might have gone a long way to help save his job.
In the not-too-distant future, the Diamondbacks will have some decisions to make about the pitching staff. Righthander Shelby Miller (Tommy John rehab) and left-hander Robbie Ray (oblique strain) are progressing toward
their respective returns and Koch could be one of the odd men out.
Before Sunday’s game, manager Torey Lovullo said the team hasn’t had any in-depth discussions about how Miller and/or Ray will fit into the team’s current starting rotation. But Koch certainly made his best case on Sunday.
“He did everything you could possibly ask in one outing,” Lovullo said of Koch. “It was one of the special days where you could tell he was feeling every pitch and able to execute in any way that he wanted to.”
Miller will make his second rehab start with a minor-league affiliate on Monday with Double-A Jackson. Having not pitched in a big-league game since April 2017, Miller would likely need one more rehab start before joining the Diamondbacks.
As for Ray, the left-hander is slated for his third bullpen session on Monday. If all goes well with the throwing session, Ray could find himself out on a rehab assignment shortly thereafter.
Lovullo said pregame that the organization welcomes the challenge of having to make these decisions, however difficult they might be. But did Koch’s outing on Sunday complicate things even further?
“I was thinking about that walking in and I felt like you might follow up on that same question,” Lovullo said when asked by a reporter after the game. “But we love those types of conversations. Players make decisions for us and players make decisions harder for us, too. I think they embrace those challenges.”
Koch’s numbers might not be eyepopping – he owns a 3.76 ERA in 55 innings – but he has made nine starts this season and all but one were efficient. In those eight such outings, Koch lasted at least five innings and allowed two runs or fewer five times.
Koch said he felt like he had some of his best stuff of the season on Sunday, a performance that for him rivaled the eight-inning effort he gave against the Washington Nationals on May 11.
As for his hold on a rotation spot, Koch is aware he could be on the chopping block.
“I think I’ve done what I can to help the team,” Koch said. “But (Miller and Ray) are great. I try not to look ahead and see what’s going to happen there. I
UP NEXT
San Francisco Giants
Giants update: The Diamondbacks now embark on a two-city trip against two NL West foes, beginning with the San Francisco Giants and ending with the Colorado Rockies. … The Diamondbacks are 4-2 against the Giants this season and have scored 20 runs in six games against them and allowed 14. During their lone trip to AT&T Park this season, the Diamondbacks won two of three and outscored the Giants 13-9. … The Giants entered play Sunday sitting 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Diamondbacks in the NL West and having won three straight games, the latter two of which came at home. They are 16-10 at home compared to just a 1220 record on the road. … First baseman Brandon Belt (.307 average, 11 home runs, .950 OPS) was placed on the disabled list on Saturday and is expected to miss the next three weeks after undergoing an appendectomy. … Shortstop Brandon Crawford leads the team in hitting with a .310 average on the season, and catcher Buster Posey (.298 average, .371 OBP) and third baseman Evan Longoria (.479 slugging, 10 home runs) have also been productive at the plate. … Left-hander starter Andrew Suarez leads the team with a 3.90 FIP on the season and has struck out 42 batters and walked just eight in 43 2/3 innings this season, but he is not expected to pitch against the Diamondbacks. … Right-hander Johnny Cueto is currently on the 60-day disabled list with a sprained elbow.
just try to do my job when I get the opportunity.”
Regardless of results, the fact that Koch has made just 11 career big-league starts could doom him once Miller and/ or Ray return. The decision could come down to him and veteran right-hander Clay Buchholz, who has posted a 1.50 ERA in three starts with the Diamondbacks and has 1,193 MLB innings under his belt.
It can be assumed that Patrick Corbin and Zack Greinke are safely anchored into rotation spots, with Ray a solid bet to reclaim his, as well. Righthander Zack Godley – who has struggled to the tune of a 4.38 ERA this season – could be forced into a bullpen role once Miller and Ray return.
But if Godley stays in the rotation, that leaves Miller, Koch and Buchholz for one spot. Sure, the decision(s) still might be a few weeks out, but the auditions have been ongoing.
“He’s maturing,” Lovullo said of Koch. “He’s doing that every single outing. He’s consistent, he’s pounding the zone with a bunch of pitches and he’s having results.
“Matt Koch is in a very good spot. He just needs to continue throwing ball.”
Insurance runs
The Diamondbacks added some insurance in the seventh inning when Marlins left-hander Adam Conley found himself in deep water after allowing a leadoff walk to Dyson. Pinch-hitter Ketel Marte doubled and Descalso hit a ball to deep center that was botched by Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson, allowing two runs to score.
David Peralta added a solo home run in the eighth inning to give him three straight games with a homer. Chris Owings scored on a wild pitch later in the inning and Marte added an RBI triple to give the Diamondbacks a six-run cushion.
After right-hander Archie Bradley pitched a scoreless eighth inning in relief of Koch, right-hander Jake Barrett – who was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Saturday – allowed an RBI double to Marlins first baseman Justin Bour in the ninth en route to a 6-1 final in favor of Arizona.