D-backs ready to turn page to Opening Day
The D-backs came into Los Angeles looking forward to seeing a team wearing a different uniform for the first time in months, but exiting Dodger Stadium on Monday night, they were no doubt thankful to be done with the Dodgers for a little while.
Arizona’s pitching staff struggled for the second straight night to keep the Dodgers’ bats in check as the D-backs fell, 12-1, the lone run coming in the second on an Ildemaro Vargas home run.
In two games against the Dodgers, the D-backs were outscored 21-3.
This browser does not support the video element.
“Look, I can’t sugarcoat it,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “We didn’t play good baseball. I’m not going to sit here and try to fool you guys. We didn’t play the way we could. We didn’t play Diamondback baseball. I think these guys are going to understand what they got to do over the next few days to make sure we’re ready to go. We can’t stumble out of the block. It’s a short sprint, we got to make sure we’re ready to go.”
It’s important to remember that it was just two exhibition games and that the D-backs did not use any of the pitchers that will make up their rotation come Opening Day -- both Taylor Widener, who started Sunday, and Taylor Clarke, who started Monday, are battling for potential bullpen spots.
But both days, they ran out a lineup that included all of their regulars -- except for Christian Walker, who is nursing a strained right groin -- and they managed just three runs on 10 hits.
“I don’t think there’s concern,” catcher Stephen Vogt said about the offense. “Obviously, we need to have better at-bats up and down the order, myself included. That’s just something that’s going to come.”
• D-backs get first taste of new life on road
Maybe it was because of how long it had been since they’ve played a game against an opponent wearing a different uniform. Or maybe it was because they only had two of these to get ready for the season. But the D-backs seemed to be taking the exhibition games a little more seriously than your typical Cactus League contest.
“There are certain things you watch inside of the dugout,” Lovullo said. “I think our guys -- which I like, because it matters to them -- it bothers them that, for the past couple of days, we didn’t play anywhere near our capabilities.”
The D-backs are done with exhibition games, but will play simulated games over the next two days and get a workout in on Thursday before opening up against the Padres and right-hander Chris Paddack in San Diego on Friday.
“I think we’ve been practicing baseball for nine months,” Vogt said. “That’s something we’ve never done. Now we have a chance to let the dogs out -- whatever euphemism or metaphor you want to use -- but I really, truly believe that on Friday, when the bell rings, we’re going to be ready. This lineup is way too deep, way too good. Maybe the hits weren’t there, but there was a lot of good at-bats. We’re very aware of that. We’ve got three days to hone in our swings and rest up, get the bodies ready to go for this 60 game sprint.”