Ian Kennedy just can’t beat Yovani Gallardo.
D-Backs vs. Brewers series | Box score | 
Twitter
The Milwaukee Brewers got the best of that pitching matchup in Games 1 and 5 of the National League Division Series last year, and it happened again Friday.
Kennedy gave up seven hits and four runs in 52/3 innings, Gallardo pitched 71/3 strong innings, and the Brewers cruised to a 7-1 victory over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
The uneven performance prolonged a frustrating run for Kennedy. He’s 0-5 in his past five starts with a 6.00 ERA and is now 3-5 on the season with a 4.65 ERA.
Kennedy looked sharp the first three innings, allowing just a solo homer to second baseman Rickie Weeks. But his night unraveled in the fourth inning. He gave up three runs on four hits â€" including a two-run homer to left fielder Ryan Braun â€" and hit a batter.
Braun’s blast was the seventh homer Kennedy has given up the last four games.
Kennedy left with two outs in the sixth, the bases loaded and Braun at the plate.
Reliever Brad Ziegler got Braun to ground out to end the threat.
Gallardo’s domination of the Diamondbacks was no surprise. He’s now 7-0 against them in his career, including his Game 1 win in the NLDS.
Arizona had just one more hit (five) than double-play grounders (four), and its lone offensive highlight was a fourth-inning solo homer from left fielder Jason Kubel, who was celebrating his 30th birthday.
The Diamondbacks had a chance to climb back in the game in the bottom of the seventh when Justin Upton and Kubel singled to start the inning, but Chris Young hit into his second double play of the night and Lyle Overbay struck out.
Arizona loaded the bases in the eighth with one out, but Ryan Roberts hit the first pitch he saw from Francisco Rodriguez into an inning-ending double play.
Milwaukee right fielder Corey Hart added a two-run homer in the eighth off Josh Collmenter.
Arizona is 4-15 in its past 19 home games.
Hudson coming back
Right-hander Daniel Hudson, out since late April with a right-shoulder impingement, will start Sunday’s game against the Brewers.
Manager Kirk Gibson made the announcement after watching Hudson’s bullpen session before Friday’s game.
“Last year we had a lot of success with Ian and Huddy,†Gibson said.
“He’s obviously a front-line starter for us … (he gives) us a chance to get deep in a game. That’s very important for us.â€
Hudson threw 71 pitches in his five-inning rehabilitation start with Triple-A Reno, and Gibson said he’ll be limited to somewhere between 90 and 100 pitches against the Brewers.
Hudson was 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in three starts before being placed on the disabled list. He was 16-12 with a 3.49 ERA last year.
Upton’s surge
After struggling the first six weeks of the season, right fielder Justin Upton has been on a tear. In the 10 games before Friday he hit .343 with two homers â€" both to the opposite field â€" nine RBIs, nine walks and nine run scored. He also had six hits in his last 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position after starting the season 2 for 26.
“He’s just staying on the ball better, getting to the fastball better,†Gibson said.
“You see him hitting the ball the other way, which, we all know when he does that, he’s on the off-speed stuff better than he was early. He’s more comfortable standing back, and he has a quicker, cleaner path to the ball.â€
Rewind
Losing skid: Right-hander Ian Kennedy, who lost his fifth consecutive start, is searching for answers.
“It’s a bad run,†he said. “I’ve had some good ones and some bad ones in there, but it’s been rough so far. I’m trying to figure out what it is every single time.
“I work hard in between starts, whether it’s mechanical or other things, but I’ve got to keep the same approach. I’ve got to try to throw every single pitch with conviction.â€
Kennedy was hurt by the long ball Friday, giving up a solo shot to Rickie Weeks in the second and a two-run homer to Ryan Braun in the fourth.
What’s changed?: Manager Kirk Gibson was asked what he thinks has changed from last year, when Kennedy won 21 games and finished fourth in Cy Young voting, to this season, in which Kennedy has a 4.65 ERA through 10 starts.
“I don’t think he’s locating the ball down as much as he needs to,†Gibson said. “He’s been unable to throw his secondary pitches for strikes, like he did. He’s close, but it’s just too much elevation on his pitches.â€
Snake charmer: Right-hander Yovani Gallardo gave up just one run in 7 1/3 innings. Nothing surprising about that, given his career dominance against the Diamondbacks.
He improved to 6-0 with a 1.21 ERA in six career starts against them, and that doesn’t count the 14 innings of two-run ball he threw against them in last year’s postseason.
“He’s pitched good against us,†Gibson said. “You’ve got to play well and hold it tight and make the most of your opportunities. But we hit into four double plays, so we weren’t able to capitalize on our opportunities.â€
â€"Nick Piecoro
View from the press box
There are many differences between this year and last year for the Diamondbacks, but consider what’s happened to the first three pitchers they used as starters in the postseason against this same Brewers team. Ian Kennedy just lost his fifth consecutive game. Daniel Hudson has made just three starts. And Josh Collmenter lost his spot in the starting rotation. Sure, Wade Miley’s been a pleasant surprise, but the starting pitching hasn’t been anything close to what it was last year.
â€"Nick Piecoro
More in TC Sports Network:
No comments:
Post a Comment