Arizona Diamondbacks Embarrassed at Home

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The losses just do not stop piling up for the Arizona Diamondbacks, as they are drubbed 9-0 by the New York Mets.

While the thought of Arizona baseball was not even on the radar when Jackie Robinson debuted, the D-Backs, along with every other team in baseball, took part in honoring the Hall of Famer that changed the game for so many on this Tuesday evening. 

If at least either the pitching or the bats were performing at an above average level, wins could be found.  The way things are now; this drought may be lasting well into the summer months. 

Call it an omen if you will, but when the first three batters reached on singles, and three runs crossed the plate in the first inning, things got tense in the Arizona dugout.  It is no secret how horrendous the club is playing and the pressing became blatantly obvious.

Heading into the regular season, the Mets were deliberating over who their #5 starter would be.  On one hand, they had Daisuke Matsuzaka, who came over to the United States with such pub a few years ago, but now tops out in the 84-86 MPH range with his fastball.  The other option was to promote young Jenrry Mejia to the rotation and see if he could stay healthy and contribute.  After tonight, Diamondback fans know all about Mr. Mejia.

The combination of Mejia, Gonzalez Germen and Kyle Farnsworth stymied the Arizona bats, allowing just three hits all evening. 

Regardless of where Martin Prado and Aaron Hill bat in the order (they were finally flip-flopped!) around Paul Goldschmidt and Mark Trumbo, if nobody hits, it makes not the slightest bit of difference.  With just three measly singles, it’s going to be difficult to beat anybody.

After Mets centerfielder Juan Lagares left yesterday’s game with a pulled hamstring, he found himself on the disabled list.  Taking his place was Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who got the start in centerfield on this evening.  Straight up from triple-A, the man dubbed “Captain Kirk,” for his namesake being a cast member of Gilligan’s Island, went 3-for-5 (as many hits as the Diamondbacks team mind you), including a near pool splash that may have scraped the retractable roof. 

In similar fashion to Monday night, the Mets slashed their way to victory.  They finished the evening with 12 hits as a team, but only Nieuwenhuis’ home run and Omar Quintanilla’s double went for extra bases. 

As pitiful a night as Bronson Arroyo had, it could have been much worse.  In fact, without looking at the stat sheet, it certainly felt like it.  Recording only 10 outs, he gave up 10 hits and nine earned runs before his day was done.  The bright side?  He recorded just enough outs to keep his ERA at a remarkable 9.95.  Being able to keep their ERA’s from reaching double digits may be the running clubhouse bet for the foreseeable future.

Tomorrow marks the conclusion of the meeting with the Mets and after the way they hit the first few days in Chase Field, it won’t be a tearful goodbye.  With the Mets #5 starter having his way against the Arizona lineup, one shutters to think what the New York Opening Day starter, Dillon Gee, can accomplish when he takes to the hill.  Brandon McCarthy is tasked with slowing down a Mets club that has gotten off to a torrid pace since entering the Western time zone.  The game gets underway at 12:40 P.M. during what should be a typical picturesque Arizona afternoon.