The Arizona Diamondbacks rallied from a 7-1 deficit with an astounding 10-run eighth inning for an 11-7 lead over the Chicago Cubs on Friday at Wrigley Field.
And yet, the D-backs did not turn to their highest-leverage relievers to keep it.
A Bryce Jarvis-Joe Mantiply tandem let in six runs during the bottom of the eighth, as Chicago ended up being the team to walk away with the heroic comeback victory, 13-11.
Justin Martinez, A.J. Puk, Ryan Thompson, Shelby Miller and Jalen Beeks have been the most reliable relievers in the bullpen so far this season, and none of them pitched on Friday.
Where did the Diamondbacks’ bullpen issues stem from?
The reason has to do with the Diamondbacks’ previous series, a sweep of the Miami Marlins to win five straight games. Martinez, Puk and Beeks had all pitched in back-to-back games to close out the Miami sweep.
“I sold out for the win yesterday,” manager Torey Lovullo told reporters postgame. “I was committed to that and I felt like getting out of Miami with a sweep and playing good baseball with the unpredictability of the next day. I thought why not secure the win? A win is a win. And it hurt us today, but there was an opportunity for some new back-end guys that just didn’t execute.”
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The D-backs led Miami 4-1 entering the eighth inning on Wednesday, and Lovullo had his high-leverage arms warming up. Arizona ended up taking a 6-1 lead, but Lovullo still used Puk and Martinez to ensure a win.
On Thursday, the D-backs led 6-3 with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Martinez entered to escape the jam with the lead, which he did. Beeks got the eighth inning and Puk ended up earning the save.
Lovullo did not say specifically they were all down, but he alluded to it by noting “you could probably figure out the guys that are on the very back end of this bullpen.”
Corbin Burnes started Friday’s game and lasted six innings for a quality start. Arizona turned to Ryne Nelson to provide length in a one-run ballgame with the bullpen short on available arms.
Nelson did not have his best day, giving up five runs without getting through the seventh inning. Ian Happ hit a grand slam off him.
With Nelson unable to eat a couple innings, Lovullo had Jarvis, Mantiply and Miller available with Thompson an emergency option after he threw 33 pitches on Thursday. Thompson would have thrown in extras if needed.
With the Diamondbacks ahead 11-7, the plan was to save Miller — who has not yet allowed a run this season — for the ninth inning.
Jarvis allowed a three-run shot from Carson Kelly to cut the lead to one, and Mantiply gave up six straight hits upon entering the game, including the go-ahead home run by Kyle Tucker.
“We tried to go with a different group of guys and they just didn’t command the baseball,” Lovullo said.
“When you don’t do that, this is what happens. But I will say this, I think it was (21) runs in an inning-and-a-half of baseball, it’s probably very entertaining for the fans, but super frustrating to us. We know that we’re a better team than that and we gotta find a way to go out there and make pitches.”
Arizona’s bullpen ERA entering Friday was 3.48 with a 0.93 WHIP. After the game, that ERA jumped to 4.86 with a WHIP of 1.16.
Help on the way for Diamondbacks bullpen
The Diamondbacks’ bullpen is going to get deeper, and some tough decisions will have to be made regarding who stays.
Kevin Ginkel and Kendall Graveman are working back from preseason injuries, while Drey Jameson is a name to look for in Triple-A Reno as he checks the final boxes before rejoining the club at some point this year.
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