Final/14
Diamondbacks-Padres Preview
Apr 16, 2016 - 7:09 AM Don't expect either Shelby Miller or Andrew Cashner to be fazed by their respective team's current scoring struggles.A lack of offense has been a common theme for both scheduled starters for Saturday night's game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres, and that scenario could very well play out again.
Miller and Cashner ranked first and second, respectively, in the National League in losses last season while also getting the lowest run support in the majors. Miller received 2.54 runs per nine innings during a hard-luck 6-17 campaign with Atlanta, while Cashner was given 3.12 per nine en route to a 6-16 finish.
Miller's prospects figured to be boosted by a trade to Arizona, second in the NL with 720 runs last season, but the 2015 All-Star hasn't helped his cause during his brief time with his new club. He's allowed five homers and 10 runs in 11 innings through two starts, failing to win either.
The right-hander served up a two-run homer to counterpart Jake Arrieta that contributed to Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs, in which he surrendered four runs while laboring through five-plus innings.
"I think he battled," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale told MLB's official website. "I put him back out there (in the sixth) with about 90 pitches because I thought his best inning was the fifth. I felt like he was getting stronger."
Miller (0-1, 8.18 ERA) faces a seemingly softer spot against a Padres team that was shut out a MLB-record five times in its first 10 games and has mustered three runs during a four-game losing streak. San Diego (3-8) is hitting .165 with no home runs and 45 strikeouts over the slide.
The Padres had chances in Friday's opener of this three-game series, loading the bases with one out in the ninth inning before Brad Ziegler induced a double play from Jon Jay that preserved a 3-2 Diamondbacks' victory.
Arizona (4-7) hasn't been swinging it well either, having totaled six runs and 19 hits over its last three. It did just enough to halt a two-game skid Friday, getting a tie-breaking RBI single from pinch-hitter Phil Gosselin in the ninth after Jake Lamb stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error.
Lamb finished 2 for 3 and is 4 for 11 with a home run against Cashner (0-1, 8.00), who's also seeking better results after struggling with high pitch counts in his first two outings.
Cashner did show a slight improvement Monday at Philadelphia, allowing three runs over five innings while not factoring in the outcome of a 4-3 win. He threw 94 pitches while surrendering five runs in four innings of a 7-0 home loss to the Dodgers on April 6.
"I always try to take aggressiveness out there," he said. "I think sometimes it maybe gets me in a little bit of trouble, but I think it was a lot better (Monday)."
Cashner lost his first three 2015 starts against Arizona but won the last two, including a June 27 victory at Petco Park in which he yielded two runs over seven innings. He received five runs of support in the defeats.
- ARIZONA: 3
SAN DIEGO: 5
Final/14
Apr 17 2:05 AM - Melvin Upton homers to center field. Wil Myers scores.
Diamondbacks 3, Padres 5 Bot 14, 2 OutsApr 17 2:05 AM - Welington Castillo flies out to center field to Jon Jay.
Diamondbacks 3, Padres 3 Top 8, 2 OutsApr 16 11:18 PM - Drury hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder Upton Jr., Tomás scored.
Diamondbacks 1, Padres 3 Mid 7Apr 16 10:51 PM - Brandon Drury out on a sacrifice fly to left center field to Melvin Upton. Yasmany Tomas scores.
Diamondbacks 2, Padres 3 Top 7, 1 OutApr 16 10:51 PM - Segura grounded out, second baseman Amarista to first baseman Myers, Tomás scored, Drury to third.
Diamondbacks 0, Padres 3 Mid 5Apr 16 10:16 PM - Jean Segura grounds out to second base, Alexi Amarista to Wil Myers. Brandon Drury to third. Yasmany Tomas scores.
Diamondbacks 1, Padres 3 Top 5, 2 OutsApr 16 10:15 PM - Jon Jay walks. Andrew Cashner to second. Alexi Amarista to third. Alexei Ramirez scores.
Diamondbacks 0, Padres 2 Bot 2, 2 OutsApr 16 9:30 PM - Alexei Ramirez singles to right center field, advances to 3rd. Melvin Upton scores. Fielding error by Socrates Brito.
Diamondbacks 0, Padres 1 Bot 2, 2 OutsApr 16 9:18 PM - Jean Segura strikes out swinging.
Apr 16 8:41 PM
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