PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks returned from a 4-2 road trip last week feeling pretty good about themselves and their postseason chances.
They were nipping at the heels of the Padres and heading home for a nine-game homestand and an opportunity to make up ground in the standings. And when they beat the Rangers handily last Friday night, it seemed like maybe they were ready to take off.
Since then, though, it’s been a struggle for the Diamondbacks. The 4-3 loss to the Marlins on Wednesday night was their second straight and their fourth in their last five games. If not for a late-inning rally Monday night for a walk-off win they would have lost five straight and been in dire straits in the postseason chase.
As it is, the loss, combined with the Padres’ win over the Rockies, dropped the Diamondbacks to 3 1/2 games behind San Diego for the final National League Wild Card spot with nine games left to play. The two teams will face each other in a three-game series to close out the regular season at Petco Park.
The road gets no easier for Arizona, which after a day off Thursday will host the Yankees for three games. New York still has plenty to play for as the Bronx Bombers look to try and run down the Rays in the American League East.
"We are very well aware of what's going on," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said regarding the postseason chase. "We know we are in an absolute dogfight, and every game matters. So we gotta get some balance back. We gotta find a way to win a baseball game. And look, we know the Yankees are gonna come into town, and this place is gonna be rocking and I'm excited to start that series. But we've gotta digest a few things. We've gotta find a way to impact the baseball, create some contact at some critical moments. We've got to run the bases a little bit better. We need to pick up the baseball. We need to just play clean baseball in all areas."
Hitting with runners in scoring position has been an issue for the Diamondbacks of late. In their 4-2 loss in 11 innings Tuesday night they were 1-for-13 in those situations and stranded 15 runners.
Wednesday, they got three solo homers but were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Even after losses, there is usually a somewhat upbeat and optimistic feel in the postgame clubhouse, but the last two days have seemed to knock this team on its heels.
"It's not low," starter Merrill Kelly said of the frustration level.
How does he see where the Diamondbacks sit in the standings?
"About the same place as you guys see it," Kelly said.
The Marlins led throughout the game, building a 4-1 lead, but then as they did two nights before in their come-from-behind win, the Diamondbacks began to chip away.
It was 4-3 in the ninth when the Marlins brought in starter Sandy Alcantara to try and close out the game. The right-hander started Monday's series opener and threw 101 pitches in that game. It was a move that caught the Diamondbacks somewhat off guard.
"I was [surprised]," Lovullo said. "I just know that's an elite arm, an elite starting pitcher, and I was a little bit confused, but to each their own. They won the baseball game."
With two outs in the ninth, Lars Nootbaar drew a walk and Jordan Lawlar came on to pinch-run for him.
With Ketel Marte at the plate and an 0-1 count, Lawlar attempted to steal second, but was thrown out to end the game.
"We have a very sophisticated system," Lovullo said. "We felt very strongly that we could time that and run and create an opportunity to score a runner from second base. But we've got to be certain when we're doing something like that. We've got to get that jump, and if we don't, we've got to shut it down. We did our math, we did our work, and we felt like we were going to be able to steal that very, very easily, and it didn't happen."
Said Lawlar: "I saw everything we prepared for, executed the approach, and [catcher Joe Mack] made a really good throw. Felt like it was a good jump, keyed off of what we're looking for and I ran."