D-Backs work through jam in 8th
The ground ball was hard hit and it ate up shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. The Diamondbacks were trying to protect a one-run lead, but Perdomo’s error opened the door for the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning on Friday night.
Had it happened in the late innings a year ago, it likely would have been the first in a slew of ghastly mistakes. Perhaps the error would have been followed by a double or a homer or another miscue; no potential turn of events was too hideous for last year’s Diamondbacks.
On Friday night, however, reliever Ian Kennedy wound up walking a tightrope and escaping the inning, handing that one-run lead to closer Mark Melancon, who finished off the 4-3 victory with an uneventful ninth.
Through the first five weeks of the season, the Diamondbacks already have won eight of the 11 one-run games they have played. They needed until late August to win their eighth one-run game of last year, finishing with a horrendous 10-31 record in those contests.
The Diamondbacks have not performed flawlessly in close and late situations this season. Their offense, at times, has come up empty. Their defense has committed some mistakes. Their bullpen has given up a handful of leads.
But, on the whole, they have been far, far better in close games than last year.
“If you compare this year to last year,” third baseman Josh Rojas said, “in the late innings I feel 10 times more comfortable with a lead compared to last year.”
Diamondbacks right-hander Zach Davies worked into the sixth to beat the team he played for last season. Ketel Marte and Perdomo had three hits apiece. The Diamondbacks won for the 12th time in their past 16 games.
The Diamondbacks’ rotation is perhaps as responsible as anything for the club’s strong start. But the team’s overall improvement late in games has been an important factor, as well. Diamondbacks relievers tied for the worst bullpen ERA in the National League last season.
The club led the league in runs allowed in both the seventh and eighth innings and allowed the third-most in the ninth. They were, in short, a disaster.