No slug, no sizzle: D-backs' bats quiet in NY

D-backs manager Torey Lovullo believes that his team’s lineup is at its best when its hitters are pulling the ball in the air and are able to slug. That’s what Arizona had mostly been doing this season before embarking on its road trip to Miami and New York.

“We’ve got to get back to that,” Lovullo said. “We’ve got to get back to that balanced approach, seeing the baseball and waiting for it to come to that spot where we can slug.”

That still didn’t quite happen Saturday night at Citi Field.

The D-backs again missed opportunities to break out with a big hit, as they scattered eight singles in a 4-2 loss to the Mets. While going 0-5 so far on this trip, Arizona has scored 10 total runs and gone 6-for-54 with runners in scoring position.

“We’ve been trying to put things together, just a little too spaced out,” said right fielder Josh Rojas, who went 2-for-3 with a run scored. “We’re getting the guys on, the timely hits just haven’t fallen for us like they have in the past. I think we’re still putting together good at-bats -- we’re still battling at the plate, we’re not giving away at-bats, every out we’re making it tough on their pitching. So I think it’s only a matter of time before those big hits that we need to pile it on will start dropping again. It’s the game of baseball.”

The Mets used five pitchers to mostly shut down the D-backs. Tommy Hunter served as the opener and needed only 17 pitches to go two scoreless innings. Joey Lucchesi allowed one unearned run in 3 1/3 frames, while Jeurys Familia, Aaron Loup and Trevor May combined to pitch the final 3 2/3 innings.

Arizona loaded the bases with a trio of two-out singles in the seventh, but Familia got Christian Walker to ground out to escape the threat. In the eighth, Stephen Vogt had a pinch-hit RBI single against Loup, but the D-backs left runners on the corners when Pavin Smith grounded out to end the inning.

After Carson Kelly opened the ninth with a single, May retired the next three Arizona batters in order to close the game and continue the D-backs’ tough week.

“When we look back at this road trip in September, hopefully we won’t be thinking about it,” said D-backs starter Merrill Kelly, who allowed three runs (two earned) in 5 2/3 innings. “Obviously, it’s frustrating to lose five straight; winning is way more fun than losing. But I think if we keep grinding, if we keep our heads down and don’t make too big of a deal about this, I think we’ll be all right.”

Before the game, Lovullo noted that he believed that Arizona’s hitters were swinging at too many pitches outside of the zone, resulting in them not making the necessary contact to drive the ball. The D-backs still haven’t recorded an extra-base hit since Rojas’ two-out double in the fifth inning of Thursday’s loss to the Marlins, as they’ve had 18 singles over the first two games vs. the Mets.

However, Lovullo believed that the hitters showed a better approach and made better contact Saturday. After collecting eight hits over the final four innings, the D-backs now just need to get back to slugging the ball.

“I’m always looking for a little carryover. I’m always looking for a little momentum,” Lovullo said.

It could be tough to keep that going Sunday, though. Standing between the D-backs and a winless trip will be Mets ace Jacob deGrom, who has a 0.51 ERA through his first five starts with 59 strikeouts in 35 innings.

But Arizona’s hitters are ready for the challenge. They likely need to be if the team is going to get a victory before returning home.

“I like facing guys that have that status, they’re supposed to be the best in the game,” Rojas said. “His numbers right now are unreal and we’ve all seen what he’s been doing this year. But I think when you play this game, your goal is to take down the guy that’s on top, and I think if you don’t have that mentality, you don’t make it this far.”