Arizona Diamondbacks fall to San Francisco Giants, set modern-era file with 23rd straight street loss
SAN FRANCISCO – Occasionally, the Arizona Diamondbacks players would look at the Oracle Park scoreboard in midfield. It told a very familiar, dark story.
The Diamondbacks wrote a dubious history and set a record in the modern day major league (since 1900) with their 23rd straight road loss and were defeated 10-3 on Thursday by the San Francisco Giants.
“It’s not something we’re proud of,” said coach Torey Lovullo. “It’s been a long time. It weighs you down. It’s hard.”
The dejected D-Backs trotted off the field and quietly made their way back to the clubhouse after the final.
| team | losses | season |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 23 | 2001 * |
| New York Mets | 22nd | 1963 |
| Philadelphia athletics | 22nd | 1943 |
| * Current streak – Elias sports office |
||
By six innings, which was hit by pitcher Zac Gallen, by six innings, only to a lone single, Arizona dropped 6-0. The Diamondbacks were weak and helpless to stop this runaway train of desperation that began nearly two months ago.
“The mood is of course unhappy,” said Gallen. “The guys are definitely not happy with the way they play. I don’t know anyone who is sane.”
The MLB brand felt almost inevitable after the collapse on Tuesday when Arizona lost a 7-0 lead in an excruciating 9-8 loss to the Giants.
Lovullo’s team has lost 14 in a row and 28 of the last 30, falling to 20:50 for the worst record in the majors.
“I lay in bed at night thinking about different things,” revealed Lovullo. “Sometimes I’m up until 3 or 4 in the morning trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together in my own head. It’s tough. It’s very challenging.”
The only consolation for the Diamondbacks that this four-game sweep brings with it: They won’t be back on the streets until June 25th in San Diego, exactly two months after their last street win. On the other hand, Arizona is not scheduled for a street game against a team under .500 until July 27 in Texas.
Also: The Diamondbacks are not the only team fighting away. Baltimore lost their 19th straight street game on Thursday and fell back in Cleveland with 10-3 points.
Arizona’s last road win came in Atlanta on April 25 when Madison Bumgarner pitched a seven-inning no-hitter to complete a double-header sweep. At this point, the Diamondbacks were a solid 9-8 away from Chase Field with no sign of problems ahead.
Since then, the Diamondbacks have been swept onto the streets by the Marlins, Mets, Dodgers, Rockies, Brewers, Athletics, and Giants.
Arizona was outdone in these road losses with 137-60 points. Last week Lovullo fired punch coach Darnell Coles and punch coach assistant Eric Hinske.
The 1963 Mets and 1943 Athletics, by the way, were both led by Hall of Fame managers towards the end of their terms. Casey Stengel turned 73 the day the Mets finished their slide, and Connie Mack was 80 while Philadelphia was in a skid.
“We have to find a way to go out and win a baseball game tomorrow before our next road trip,” said Lovullo. “That is my focus and that will also be the focus of everyone else.”
Gallen (1-2) allowed four well-deserved runs in 2⅔-innings in his first startback from a sprained pitching elbow. The right-hander also recorded Arizona’s first hit of the afternoon, a third inning single from Giants starter Kevin Gausman.
Gausman (8-1) limited the d-backs to two runs on four hits in eight masterful innings. The right-hander struck six and went one.
Curt Casali homed and drove four runs for San Francisco, finishing the cycle doubly shy. Steven Duggar went 3-for-3 with an RBI double and Mauricio Dubon and Mike Yastrzemski both ran two runs as the Giants improved their best record in the majors to 44-25.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
