Margin for error growing narrower for D-backs

MINNEAPOLIS -- With runners on the corners and trailing by a run, Arizona’s Geraldo Perdomo tried to lay down a bunt against Twins hard-throwing closer Jhoan Duran in the ninth inning on Friday night.

On the first pitch he saw from Duran, Perdomo squared but popped up the bunt and couldn’t advance the runners. The next batter, Ketel Marte, struck out looking on a pitch that was outside the zone.

This is life for the D-backs recently. With the offense struggling, they have the slimmest of margins and can’t afford misexecution. Friday’s 3-2 loss in the series opener in Minnesota was the latest example.

“I stand in front of this camera every night and it’s the same explanation,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We like that. We like the tight games. We feel when we’re doing things right and playing our game, we can execute and win baseball games. It’s just we’re not getting it done right now.”

The D-backs have now lost 19 of their past 26 games. In a month, they’ve gone from a three-game lead in the National League West to third place and 7 1/2 games behind the Dodgers.

More to the point of the small margin for error, five of Arizona’s last seven games have been decided by one run. They are 2-5 in that stretch and have now lost back-to-back games by a run after the 1-0 loss in the series finale against the Giants on Thursday.

“I think what makes this stretch a little tougher is that, for the most part, we’re in all these games,” said Friday’s starter Merrill Kelly. “I think those games probably hurt a little bit more than the usual ones just because we know that we’re so close. If we get that guy over in an inning or we get him in [to score] in an inning, we get a bunt down, we’re flip-flopping these games in a heartbeat and for some reason, we just can’t figure out how to do those in those big spots.”

Perdomo was trying to make something happen in the ninth and help Arizona break out of its recent doldrums. But when he popped up his bunt attempt, it cut short the momentum created by Jake McCarthy’s walk and pinch-hitter Alek Thomas’ single.

“I didn’t put the sign on,” Lovullo said. “It’s an instinctual play. We had a situation come up and discussions that we’ve had as recently as yesterday, as a matter of fact, about being able to do that on his own if he sees it and he can make that play and put the bunt down.

“He’s a very good bunter. I just think there’s a lot of velo. Duran has a lot of velo, and I think the barrel was still getting into position and the ball was upon him.”

In discussing the play further, Lovullo said he didn’t mind the bunt attempt. But perhaps the timing might have been off. Perdomo had never faced Duran before.

“I should have really taken the first pitch because Jhoan Duran, his fastball has a little bit of carry,” Perdomo said. “I thought it was a great decision for the team. We got Jake at third base and Thomas on first base. We tried to play the situation. We’re down by one. I think that was a great decision to bunt it right there.”

Lovullo also would have preferred Perdomo to see a pitch.

“He made a good decision,” Lovullo said. “I’m all for it. … I approved it and I signed off on it knowing there was an opportunity. It was the right time, just very poor execution. I’ll take that chance.”

It was the second straight night of not capitalizing on a quality start, too.

Brandon Pfaadt allowed one run in seven innings on Thursday and Kelly gave up two runs in six innings against Minnesota. The lone blemishes against Kelly were two solo home runs, one a pitch that got away to Max Kepler after Arizona had taken a lead.

Kelly said there’s no pointing fingers during the recent stretch.

“We all pull for each other,” Kelly said. “We all support each other. I think when fingers start getting pointed and blame starts getting thrown, I think that’s when stuff can really go downhill. I think we’ve done a good job of that. Obviously, everyone sees what’s going on. I think everyone holds themselves to a pretty high standard and they’re not necessarily happy with what they’re doing right now.”