Diamondbacks sweep the Rockies
Godley sharp, Goldschmidt on roll as D-Backs finish sweep
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Godley throws to the Colorado Rockies’ DJ LeMahieu.
DENVER – With right-hander Shelby Miller and lefty Robbie Ray nearing potential returns to the starting rotation, it isn’t a good time to be a struggling starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks.
How much this was weighing on Zack Godley’s mind entering his start on Sunday at Coors Field is a question only he can answer, and he sort of evaded it when it was posed to him. But if he continues to pitch like he did in an 8-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies, Godley should have nothing to worry about.
Using a delivery he felt was more balanced, Godley gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out eight. He elicited 19 swinging strikes – 10 coming on his curveball – the most he’s had in a start since he shut down the San Francisco Giants on April 9, a performance that rates as his most dominant of the year.
The win completed a three-game sweep of the Rockies and served to make the Diamondbacks’ struggles of last month – their offensive ineptitude, their 2-15 stretch, their fall out of first place – feel even more removed, even harder to fathom.
The Diamondbacks scored 29 runs in the three games. Slugger Paul Goldschmidt seemed to be in the middle of everything. He had two hits – a double and a triple – and a walk on Sunday. In his past five games, he’s 15 for 22 (.682) with six doubles, a triple and four home runs. He’s hitting .500 since June 1 and .417 since May 23. On May 22, his season batting average was at .198. It’s at .254 after Sunday.
“When you’ve got your big guy doing what he’s done for a lot of years, that’s what we’re used to,” Diamondbacks infielder Daniel Descalso said. “He got off to a slow start, but you knew that at some point he’s too good to keep doing that.”
Infielder Ketel Marte had three hits, including a home run, as he continued to swing the bat well, a streak that’s perhaps been overshadowed by Goldschmidt’s dominance. Marte’s second-inning home run was his 10th consecutive hit that went for extra bases, a feat that tied a club record. In his past 12 games,
hitting .359 with seven doubles, two triples and three homers.
On Sunday, Godley was one or two tough breaks from tossing six scoreless innings. With Miller and Ray perhaps a couple of away from rejoining the rotation, Godley’s outing might have served as a reminder for the organization of how dominant he can be, although pitching coach Mike Butcher said he didn’t need any reminders.
“Zack had a great year for us last year,” Butcher said. “We don’t forget those things.”
Godley had been struggling for weeks. In his previous 10 starts entering Sunday, he owned a 6.35 ERA. His walk rate had climbed. His ability to finish hitters off with his curveball had diminished.
In recent weeks, there were only brief glimpses of the pitcher who arrived from Triple-A Reno last year and saved the rotation. Instead, he was looking more replaceable with every start.
“That’s not in my control,” Godley said, when asked if he had been thinking about his rotation spot. “I can’t control what happens in that situation. That’s for the upper management and the front office to decide. That’s not for me to control. All I can do is, with every chance I get to go out on the mound, execute pitches and get guys out.”
The Diamondbacks believe his delivery might have been partly responsible for his struggles. Godley always has had an aggressive, high-octane delivery, one that often leaves him spinning off the mound after he delivers a pitch. But Butcher believes there were too many times Godley was falling off before finishing his pitch.
“He was getting a little bit quick coming off the ball,” Butcher said, “and losing a little bit of command.”
Godley didn’t dispute the notion. Sometimes, he said, he would yank pitches. Other times, he’d let go too early and the ball would run up and in on hitters. With an unrepeatable delivery, Godley didn’t know where the ball was going.
“There’s no telling what it’s going to do,” Godley said. “It’s very inconsistent.”
Butcher said Godley took what he worked on in his most recent bullpen and carried it into Sunday’s start, and in the few instances when he fell back into old habits he was quick to make adjustments.
“We’re not looking for a polished desue, livery out of him,” Butcher said. “But we’re looking for a repeatable delivery. He did a really nice job of repeating pitches today.”
Velocity talk
Left-hander Patrick Corbin’s average fastball velocity ticked up a little in his start last week against the Giants, sitting at 91.4 mph, the highest it’s been since the end of April. It had been sitting mostly in the 89-90 mph range after sitting 92-93 for April.
What seems odd, however, is that his average slider velocity has actually gone up, going from 81.6 in his first six starts to 82 mph in seven starts since. Asked about it, Corbin had no answers.
“I’m not really sure,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I’m trying to do anything differently, but I don’t really know why that is.”
As far as the fastball velocity goes, he doesn’t think it’s posed much of an ishe’s noting that he likes the action he’s been getting on his sinker.
Father time
Catcher Jeff Mathis was placed on the paternity leave list on Sunday and was replaced on the roster by slugger Christian Walker. Mathis can remain on the paternity list for a maximum of three days.
Walker contributed on Sunday, opening the seventh inning with a pinch-hit single to center and scoring on Paul Goldschmidt’s two-run triple.
Walker has been seeing time in the outfield with Triple-A Reno, and Lovullo said the club’s player development staff described him as a “serviceable” defender. That said, Lovullo didn’t want to use Walker in the large outfield at Coors Field.
Short hops
Right-hander Shelby Miller was roughed up in his rehab start on Sunday evening for Double-A Jackson, giving up eight runs on nine hits and two walks in three innings. Miller threw 65 pitches. It seems likely he’ll get at least another rehab start; the club had hoped to build his pitch count into the 90-pitch range.
❚ Right-hander Randall Delgado is expected to make his third appearance for High-A Visalia. He has made two scoreless appearances thus far on his rehab assignment.
“Zack had a great year for us last year. We don’t forget those things.” Mike Butcher Diamondbacks pitching coach