D-Backs look lifeless as

Pirates complete sweep

It happened quickly, a transformation that took place with almost no notice. In a span of a few days, the Diamondbacks went from looking like a team that might surprise to playing like the club everyone expected them to be all along.

They were beaten 8-0 on Sunday at Chase Field as the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a three-game sweep, a series in which the Diamondbacks scored a combined two runs.

“It was a bit of a rough go,” right fielder Mark Trumbo said.

He was talking about the offense but could have been referring to any area of the team. In the three games, the Diamondbacks’ rotation was just so-so, their bullpen ineffective and their baserunning sus-

Jeremy Hellickson yields four runs in 42⁄ innings and snaps the D-Backs’ stretch of 9 quality starts in Sunday’s 8-0 loss. 5C » Reliever Brad Ziegler’s solid performances show he’s recovered from offseason knee surgery. 5C

» MLB roundup, scores. 4C pect.

Some of it might have been the opponent; the Pirates have been one of the better teams in the National League in recent years, their pitching staff ranking among the best in the majors. But there was no sugarcoating a series in which the Diamondbacks were outscored 14-2.

“Obviously, their pitchers pitched well,” Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. “But we didn’t do a very good job offensively, either. I don’t want to take any of the credit away from them because they came in here and played well. … But, of course, we have to do better offensively.”

On Sunday, they managed just three hits, received only 42⁄ innings from their starter, watched their bullpen cough up four runs and made key outs on the bases in each of the first two innings.

Some of the problem spots are the same as they’ve been all month, namely that the club’s catchers, second basemen and shortstops are providing little in the way of offensive production. But now that rookie

See D-BACKS, Page 5C

The question posed to Damarious Randall was simple: How long has it been since Arizona State has had a player go in the first round of the NFL draft?

“Maybe since Terrell Suggs (in 2003)?” the former ASU safety said.

Randall paused and then asked a question of his own:

“How long has it been since we’ve had two?”

This is where ASU stands entering this week’s draft — with optimism and confidence. It’s been a process. From 2011 to 2013, the Sun Devils had just three players drafted. They were shut out one of those years.

Last year, ASU made a jump. Defensive lineman Will Sutton went in the third round. Linebacker Carl Bradford went in the fourth and running back Marion Grice — the first ASU recruit to get drafted under coach Todd Graham — went in the sixth.

This draft has chance to be better. Much better. Receiver Jaelen Strong — an All-Pac-12 selection who left school after his junior season — is one of 26 players invited to the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, which means he has a strong chance of going in Round 1. In addition, Randall — considered the draft’s top safety by NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock — could hear his name called, as well.

“I guess a lot of the things I do very well are some of the things teams

See ASU, Page 7C

a 2003: (10) Terrell Suggs, OLB, Baltimore Ravens 2002: (10) Levi Jones, T, Cincinnati Bengals 2001: (20) Adam Archuleta, S, St. Louis Rams 2001: (31) Todd Heap, TE, Baltimore Ravens 2000: (26) Erik Flowers, DE, Buffalo Bills