The Chicago White Sox took advantage of the Diamondbacks' struggling bullpen. The onslaught began with Lenyn Sosa hitting a three-run homer, followed by Andrew Vaughn with a two-run homer. Paul DeJong added a solo shot, and Korey Lee sealed it with another two-run homer. The Diamondbacks hoped to sweep the series and embark on their road trip to Washington and Philadelphia with a .500 record. However, this defeat brought their record to 34-37. They now aim to avoid the embarrassment of dropping a series to a team that came into the weekend with just 18 wins.
Saturday’s game was anticipated to be unusual from the start, with reliever Scott McGough taking the mound for the Diamondbacks. Yet, the game turned out to be even more bizarre than expected. Arizona took an early lead in the first inning but then found themselves trailing the White Sox 2-1 after four innings.
The third inning saw an odd sequence of events. With two outs and slow-running catcher Martin Maldonado on second, manager Torey Lovullo made a curious move. He walked out to the mound to speak with reliever Thyago Vieira and seemingly instructed him to intentionally balk Maldonado to third base by dropping the baseball. This unusual tactic, likely due to concerns about Maldonado stealing signs from second base, led to a run when Andrew Vaughn subsequently singled to center field, allowing Maldonado to score from third.
In other news, manager Torey Lovullo provided updates on injured players Alek Thomas and Merrill Kelly, shedding light on their potential return to the lineup. Center fielder Alek Thomas, who played his second rehab game in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Saturday, is aiming for a return during the next homestand. Lovullo mentioned that Thomas will play another game in the complex league on Monday before joining Triple-A Reno on Wednesday, where he will likely remain through the weekend. The Diamondbacks' next homestand begins on June 25 against Minnesota.
As for right-hander Merrill Kelly, Lovullo acknowledged that the team’s No. 2 starter probably won’t be back before mid-July. "It might be a little bit after the All-Star break," Lovullo said. "We’re just being very cautious with Merrill. He knows his body well and gives great input." Lovullo emphasized the importance of being extremely cautious with Kelly’s return. "If we have to wait a little extra time on the front side to get him back for the remaining two months of baseball, we’ll sign up for that," he added.
Despite Saturday’s disappointment, the Diamondbacks are focused on turning things around. Their upcoming games are crucial as they seek to avoid dropping a series to the struggling White Sox. The team will need to find ways to piece together effective pitching performances and capitalize on their offensive opportunities.
Highlights and Key Points:
- Saturday's Game: The Diamondbacks fell to the Chicago White Sox, 9-2, delaying their quest for a .500 record.
- Bullpen Struggles: The Diamondbacks' bullpen game ahead of bulk pitcher Tommy Henry did not go well, with the White Sox scoring off each of the four pitchers.
- White Sox Homers: Lenyn Sosa (three-run homer), Andrew Vaughn (two-run homer), Paul DeJong (solo homer), and Korey Lee (two-run homer) all contributed to the White Sox’s victory.
- Series Sweep Hopes Dashed: A sweep would have allowed the Diamondbacks to embark on their road trip with a .500 record. Instead, their record fell to 34-37.
- Unusual Game Sequence: The third inning saw an unusual sequence with manager Torey Lovullo instructing reliever Thyago Vieira to intentionally balk, leading to a run for the White Sox.
- Injury Updates:
- Alek Thomas: The center fielder is targeting a return during the next homestand. He is currently playing rehab games in the Arizona Complex League and will soon join Triple-A Reno.
- Merrill Kelly: The right-hander is not expected back until mid-July. The team is being very cautious with his return, possibly delaying it until after the All-Star break.
With these key points and highlights, the Diamondbacks are set on their path forward, hoping to recover from this setback and improve their performance in the coming games. Their resilience and strategic decisions will be critical as they navigate the rest of the season.
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