Godley to 'pen as D-backs weigh rotation options

SAN DIEGO -- The D-backs are moving right-hander Zack Godley to the bullpen and weighing their options for a No. 5 starter.

D-backs manager Torey Lovullo spoke with Godley about the move on Monday.

“We’re going to stay with that decision for the time being,” Lovullo said. “These are the kind of conversations that are never easy. But we’re going to go that route. I made it as clear as I possibly could that this was the best solution for this team, and he’s going to be ready to go.

“He didn’t like the news. I didn’t expect that he would, because he wants to start. But he’s going to go down there and be the best version that he can possibly be.”

The D-backs have an off-day on Thursday, so they could keep the rest of the rotation on schedule and not use a No. 5 starter until May 27 at Colorado. The D-backs haven't decided who will fill that fifth-starter slot, Lovullo said.

Rookie right-hander Taylor Clarke, 26, had a quality start in Godley’s place on May 7, so he figures to be one of the options. Clarke is currently at Triple-A Reno.

Godley, 29, has made 80 starts for the D-backs since 2015, winning a career-high 15 games last year. In eight starts this season, he is 1-4 with a 7.71 ERA. In three relief outings, he has a 9.00 ERA, but his career ERA out of the 'pen is 4.89. He allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings on Saturday at San Francisco in his last start.

At least initially, the D-backs will take advantage of the fact Godley is stretched out for a starter’s workload and use him as a long reliever.

“He’s actually thrown the ball pretty well out of the bullpen,” Lovullo said.

Tomas' 4-homer game turns heads

Lovullo was among those amazed by the performance of the D-backs’ Triple-A affiliate on Monday. Reno hit 10 home runs in a 25-8 home victory over Tacoma. Yasmany Tomas hit four homers and Matt Szczur hit for the cycle.

“I don’t care what park you’re playing in,” Lovullo said. “I don’t care what the conditions are. I don’t care what the altitude is. When you hit four home runs, you’re doing something pretty spectacular.”

• Tomas hits 4 HRs as Reno scores 25 runs

Coincidentally, Lovullo was on a call earlier in the day with Aces manager Chris Cron, whose son, Kevin Cron, is a corner infielder with the club and leads the Minors with 21 home runs, including two on Monday.

“The natural progression through those calls is you ask how everybody is doing and you refer to them by name,” Lovullo said. “As I got to Kevin, I had a second where I thought, ‘Do I call him Kevin or do I call him your son?’ I elected, because I love the fact that he’s doing that, to say, ‘How’s your boy doing?’

“He organically went over it. He did it like he did every other player. That’s probably very hard for him inside, because I’m sure he’s very proud of him. But he separates that as a manager.”

Notable

• Though he’s a career .442 hitter at Petco Park, center fielder Adam Jones got Monday off in his hometown with the Padres starting tough righty Chris Paddack.

“He just looks at me and growls at me,” Lovullo said of how Jones responds to days off. “He doesn’t say much. … He’s very professional. He realizes that rest is important right now.”

• Infielder Wilmer Flores was out of the lineup after suffering a right foot bruise when he was hit by a pitch on Sunday. He was available off the bench and shouldn’t miss any additional time, Lovullo said.