Diamondbacks game report
Diamondbacks 11, Rangers 8
At Surprise Stadium, Monday
At the plate: The Diamondbacks scored 10 or more runs for the third consecutive day. They displayed a nice opposite field approach, with every starter except C Jose Herrera reaching base. OF/1B Pavin Smith went 2-for-4, recording his first hits since missing a few days last week with back spasms. He’s now hitting .381 through 21 at-bats. DH/C P.J. Higgins crushed his second homer of the spring over the visitors’ bullpen in left field. 2B/3B Buddy Kennedy continued his fielding troubles by misplaying a foul pop-up in the first inning, but also hit a triple to center, adding to an impressive spring at the plate. “I think everything’s timing up well for our guys,” Lovullo said. “We’re having some really good, quality at-bats.”
On the mound: RHP Zac Gallen allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks across 4 IP in his second spring start. “Didn’t feel that great,” Gallen said. “Felt better than I did the previous outing.” Gallen added that his slider, change-up and fastball all felt good but that his curveball was “not really existent.” His focus is on getting the timing with his mechanics in place by Opening Day, which is 17 days away. Gallen was removed with two outs in the fourth but returned to retire one batter in the fifth so as to get his body used to getting up to pitch in five innings, which he said is more important than the pitch count. LHP
Joe Mantiply was hit hard out of the bullpen, giving up three runs on four hits, including a home run, in one inning of work. Mantiply had previously had three scoreless outings.
Extra bases: In the first inning, the Diamondbacks displayed some of the baserunning aptitude that has made them one of the best teams in baseball in that area. OF Jake McCarthy went first-to-third on a single to left from Smith, enabling Smith to move into scoring position behind him. Both runners came around to score. Smith did so on a shallow sacrifice fly, just beating the throw home with a hard sprint from third. “We take an extra base first-to-third and home-to-second, it set a really good tone,” Lovullo said. “We talk about setting tones and doing things right, it showed up in the first inning.”