There were few highlights for the D-Backs during the woeful series at Chase Field, particularly when it came to the pitching mound. It started off with Doug Davis getting rocked for five runs off 11 hits in the first three innings on Friday night. Ryan Braun was the first to rough up the pitcher, as the Milwaukee outfielder popped a two-run homer to start the game (which incidentally scored former D-Back Felipe Lopez). Braun struck again against Davis in the third, providing all the runs that his team would need by pounding an RBI double to bring in Mike Cameron and later crossing the dish himself via a Casey McGehee single.
Things got a lot worse during Saturday's 9-2 loss, as it was Kevin Mulvey's turn to get smacked around. It was a rather inauspicious debut for the newbie pitcher, who was making his first appearance for Arizona after getting claimed off waivers at the beginning of the month. The former Minnesota Twin hurler got bitchslapped with homers and RBIs for three innings by the Brewers, who went up 5-0 before Hinch pulled the plug. Fellow neophyte Bryan Augenstein fared no better in relief, giving up another four runs.
Max Scherzer attempted to salvage at least one win from the series on Sunday, keeping things competitive through the early innings by sending down such sluggers as Corey Hart and Mike Rivera in the early going and only allowing a single run by Prince Fielder in the fourth. The D-Backs offense also seemed to finally come alive, building a 2-1 lead off a double by Mark Reynolds (who was still feeling a bit woozy from his recent bout with the flu) and a homer by Chris Young. The pitching gremlins returned with a vengeance in the seventh inning, however, as Daniel Schlereth ripped defeat from the jaws of victory by fumbling four runs to Milwaukee, resulting in a 5-3 outcome.
The Snakes hit the road for San Diego in a battle of the cellar dwellers before returning home against the Colorado Rockies later this week. Fingers are likely being crossed that the pitching will markedly improve at Petco Park against the recently resurgent Padres, who managed to sneak two of three against the Rox over the weekend. The probables are as follows:
Tonight, 7:05: Billy Buckner (2-6, 7.38 ERA) vs. Kevin Correia (10-10, 4.30).
Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.: Dan Haren (13-8, 2.82) vs. Wade LeBlanc (2-1, 5.01).
Wednesday, 12:35 p.m.: Doug Davis (7-13, 3.99) vs. Edward Mujica (3-4, 3.33).
TV: Fox Sports Arizona tonight and Tuesday (no TV Wednesday). Radio: KTAR-AM 620. More info: www.dbacks.com.
