That statistic cost the D-Backs dearly late in the game Tuesday night, killing a rally that had already produced two runs in the eighth inning.
Miguel Montero and Reynolds struck out with two men on as the D-Backs lost 6-4 to the Chicago Cubs.
In fact, four of the last five D-Backs outs were strikeouts and they had ten total in the game. It was pretty ugly to watch.
The D-Backs got the scoring started in the second inning -- all with two outs. After Mark Reynolds drew a walk, Adam LaRoche blasted a ground-rule double to left-center.
Stephen Drew then lifted a sac fly to left to give the Snakes a one-run lead.
The Snakes squandered a golden opportunity in the fourth. With runners at first and third with ZERO outs, Reynolds struck out, which wasn't a total surprise considering he leads the majors in that category. LaRoche then smacked a tailor-made, double-play ball and the inning was over with no runs across the plate.
After cruising through the first five innings, D-Backs starter Barry Enright ran into trouble in the sixth. After giving up a leadoff home run to Kosuke Fukudome, Enright then gave up a double to Derrek Lee. Enright's final pitch of the night proved to be a costly one as Aramis Ramirez connected for a two-run homer to give the Cubs a 3-1 lead.
"I felt like I lost that edge a little bit," Enright said of the sixth inning.
In all Enright pitched 5.2 innings, giving up three runs and seven hits. Although he was doomed by the two long balls, Enright impressed manager Kirk Gibson with his performance.
"It was a good effort by a young kid," Gibson said. "He's done a really good job in his first two starts."
Kelly Johnson, in a major power funk lately, helped pull the D-Backs within one with his 14th home run of the year in the bottom of the sixth.
The D-Backs' have been unable to find a clutch hit when it matters most.
"We haven't been getting that big hit," Johnson said.
Seems like the needed hit hasn't been there all season for a team now 20 games under .500
The Cubs tacked on another run in the seventh to extend the lead back to two.
The dagger came in the form of another Ramirez home run, this one also a two-run shot, which gave Chicago a 6-2 lead.
The D-Backs and Cubs square off in the series finale tonight with Chicago looking for the sweep. Edwin Jackson (6-6, 4.74 ERA) takes on Ryan Dempster (6-7, 3.54 ERA).
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. TV: Fox Sports Arizona. Radio: KTAR 620-AM. More info: dbacks.com.