(This story was updated to add new information.)
DENVER — A year ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks lost their final four games of the regular season — and six of their last nine — but nonetheless managed to reach the postseason, where they embarked on a magical run. This year’s club seems to be trying to find out if it, too, can back into October.
The Diamondbacks were beaten again by the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night, falling 8-2 at Coors Field. It was their second loss in as many days to a team that is flirting with its second consecutive 100-loss season.
For the second consecutive game against the worst pitching staff in the majors and in baseball’s best offensive environment the Diamondbacks did little at the plate. They managed just two runs on six hits.
Manager Torey Lovullo thought he knew the "what" — namely, that his hitters were swinging through, or at least not driving, pitches they normally hit — but did not know the "why."
“I can’t explain it,” Lovullo said. “You come into this stadium and score a couple of runs on back-to-back days. We’ve got to figure this out.”
The Diamondbacks have lost four of five and seven of 11, but if there is a bright spot, it is that not all of their wild-card competition have fared better.
While the New York Mets pulled even with the Diamondbacks for the second wild-card spot — and, by virtue of owning the tiebreaker, essentially moved into position for the second spot — the Atlanta Braves lost for the third time in as many days and remained two games back with 11 games remaining.
“I don’t want us to worry about that,” Lovullo said. “I want us to play our game and do our thing and worry about our dugout and our clubhouse and at the end of the night see where we’re at. I’m grateful that nobody is running away with it, but that’s of minimal concern. I want us to go out and play our game.”
The Rockies grabbed the early lead thanks to a strange play in the second inning. Michael Toglia hit what looked like a routine popup back of first base, but, according to Lovullo, none of the Diamondbacks’ three defenders on the right side of the field saw it. It fell among first baseman Christian Walker, second baseman Luis Guillorme and right fielder Corbin Carroll.
“They were totally blind,” Lovullo said. “It was that time of the night. They just lost it and it fell. The night sky here can be a little bit challenging.”
Said Diamondbacks lefty Jordan Montgomery: “It was kind of that triangle of death right there, right where no one could get to it.”
The Rockies went on to score twice in the inning. They added two more in the sixth, an inning helped along by a dropped throw at third by Eugenio Suarez, who had Nolan Jones dead to rights on the front end of a double steal had he been able to come up with catcher Jose Herrera’s throw. Suarez said the throw was moving like a sinker.
“That throw made a little bit of a weird move, but there’s nothing that I can say,” Suarez said. “I’ve got to catch that ball.”
Incredibly, the Diamondbacks, who for most of the past couple of months had baseball’s best second-half record, enter Wednesday looking to avoid a sweep against one of the worst teams in the majors.
“We have one more game tomorrow and we’ve got to come with better energy and try to win the game,” Suarez said. “And then go on to Milwaukee and see what happens there.”
Wednesday’s Diamondbacks-Rockies pitching matchup
Diamondbacks at Rockies, 12:10 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-3, 5.50) vs. Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (5-10, 4.44).
At Chase Field: Rodriguez gave up two runs in five innings in a loss to the Brewers last week, all the damage coming on a two-run shot by 1B Rhys Hoskins. … He has made seven starts since coming off the injured list and has logged between four innings and 5 2/3 innings in all of them. He has been permitted to reach 100 pitches only once, exiting around 90 pitches in each of his past four outings. … Opposing hitters have hit his cutter hard this year, with a .333 average and .593 slugging. … Gomber gave up two runs in six innings against the Cubs in his most recent start, extending what has been a solid stretch for him. Over his past six starts, he has a 3.00 ERA in 39 innings. His best start in that string of games came against the Braves, whom he held to one run over eight innings. … He has faced the Diamondbacks three times this year, struggling in the first outing (four runs in 4 2/3 innings) but holding them to two runs over six innings in the other two.
Coming up
Thursday: At Milwaukee, 4:15 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (9-9, 4.81) vs. Brewers TBA.
Friday: At Milwaukee, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (12-6, 3.61) vs. Brewers TBA.
Saturday: At Milwaukee, 4:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (4-0, 4.00) vs. Brewers TBA.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'I can’t explain it': Arizona Diamondbacks offense muted again in another loss at Colorado
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