Zack Godley putting up zeroes vs. Brewers

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Godley putting up zeroes for D-Backs

Diamondbacks right-hander Zack Godley is through three shutout innings to start Saturday night’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, which was scoreless through 2 1/2 innings.

For Godley, he’s picking up where he left off before his surprise demotion to the minors 10 days ago. He’s given up just one hit through three innings against the Brewers, a team he shut out for six innings on May 26 in Milwaukee.

At the plate, the Diamondbacks put a runner in scoring position in each of the first two innings against Brewers right-hander Junior Guerra but were unable to push a run across. In the first, Paul Goldschmidt was picked off second base by catcher Manny Pina after getting too big a secondary lead.

Bracho’s ‘wiggle’ keying recent improvement

Reliever Silvino Bracho has quietly had two encouraging outings since his fourth call-up this season on June 8, allowing just one hit over 2 2/3 innings while striking out three. That’s a far cry from his first outing for Arizona this year, when he was shelled for three runs in 1/3 of an inning on April 24 and was optioned to Triple-A Reno two days later.

One reason for the improvement: About a month ago Bracho incorporated a “wiggle” into his pitching motion. After coming to a set position, he wiggles his glove in an attempt to change his timing and make hitters more uncomfortable at the plate.

“When I got sent down I got down in my mind and decided to try to do something different to get people out,” Bracho said. “I’m trying to change the tempo for the hitter.”

Bracho admitted it was tough to get hit hard in his first appearance and then almost immediately get sent back to the minors.

“I had to keep my mind focused,” he said. “Because if I lose my mind I can’t do my job.”

Bracho pitched well in Reno, striking out 30 batters in 17 2/3 innings with a 1.53 ERA while holding hitters to a .148 batting average. Manager Torey Lovullo had enough confidence in Bracho that he had him ready to go in the bullpen in the sixth inning on Thursday with the Diamondbacks holding a one-run lead over the Padres.

“I think young players overall have a very tough time walking into the environment and doing well right off the bat,” Lovullo said. “Sometimes just with my experience when you don’t do well your thoughts kind of wander into, ‘Oh my God, I’m getting sent out after the game.’ You start going in the wrong direction from a mental standpoint.

“Maybe that was something he was doing, maybe losing focus pitch to pitch. But he has responded and thrown the ball very, very well.”

Walker’s next pitch

The Diamondbacks’ starting rotation is unsettled after Zack Greinke’s start on Tuesday in Detroit but it appears Taijuan Walker will be getting the ball fairly soon.

Lovullo said Walker threw a bullpen session Saturday that included him taking the protective tape off his blister and that the session “went well.” He said the Diamondbacks will use the next 24 hours to determine the next step for Walker, but when asked if that step would be a major league start, Lovullo said, “That would be the best-case scenario, correct.”

Walker hasn’t pitched since May 19. His return would give the Diamondbacks six starters. Also muddling the rotation plans: Arizona has three days off in the next nine days.

DH day off?

Lovullo said he hasn’t decided whom his designated hitters will be in the two games at Detroit but he was leaning toward giving Paul Goldschmidt a rest from playing first base.

“I think it would be a nice way for Goldy to play a game and get him off his feet a little bit,” Lovullo said. “I haven’t told him that. I’ll probably need to as soon as I get out of this room.”

Pollock update

Lovullo said center fielder A.J. Pollock ran “close to 100 percent” before Saturday’s game, including making some gradual turns.

“The next couple of days he’s going to ramp up that activity,” Lovullo said. “The fact he was feeling good and running close to 100 percent was very encouraging to me.”

There’s still no timetable for Pollock’s return or a rehabilitation assignment.

Lineup

Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (1-1, 2.39) will start Saturday against Brewers in the second game of the D-Backs’ home series.

Saturday’s game

Brewers at Diamondbacks

When: 7:10 p.m.

Where: Chase Field (Roof hotline: 602-462-6262)

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (1-1, 2.39) vs. Brewers RHP Junior Guerra (1-0, 1.83).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1)

Godley is back in the starting rotation after being sent to the minors because the Diamondbacks needed an extra bullpen arm on their 11-game road trip. He hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his six starts, and he was brilliant against the Brewers on May 26, throwing six innings of scoreless ball and getting the win. Guerra was on the mound for Milwaukee that day and held Arizona to just three hits and one earned run over 5 2/3 innings.

Coming up

Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (6-3, 2.85) vs. Brewers RHP Chase Anderson (5-1, 2.94).

Monday: Off.

Tuesday: At Detroit, 4:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (8-3, 3.20) vs. Tigers RHP Buck Farmer (2-0, 0.00).

‘Frustrating’ night for Diamondbacks in loss to Brewers

After three hours and 38 minutes, 14 runs, 22 hits, 319 pitches, nine pitching changes, three double switches, a 100-mph fastball to end an inning and countless mound meetings, it was 10:32 p.m. when Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo finally sat down at the podium for his postgame press conference.

“One of those nights a little frustrating for a lot of reasons,” Lovullo said after Arizona’s 8-6 loss to Milwaukee that snapped the Diamondbacks’ three-game winning streak.

Among those reasons: Starter Randall Delgado, who had allowed just two earned runs combined in his previous two starts, was rocked for three runs by the Brewers in the first inning. Delgado lasted five innings, giving up seven hits and four earned runs, an outing that Lovullo called “OK.”

“He had the difficult first inning against a team that has been very good traditionally over the past month in the first inning,” Lovullo said.

2017 MLB MOCK DRAFT: Projecting the first round

Taijuan Walker still progressing toward his return

Diamondbacks right-hander Taijuan Walker threw a bullpen session on Friday and likely will have at least one more before a decision is made about bringing Walker off the disabled list.

Walker, who is 4-3 with an ERA of 3.46, went on the disabled list on May 21 because of a blister on his right index finger.

He wore a bandage on the finger during a simulated game on Wednesday and in Friday’s bullpen session.

“We want to get him in there and start as soon as possible,” manager Torey Lovullo said before Friday’s game against the Brewers. “That’s the plan, but we aren’t going to put him in a situation where things are going to go backwards for him.”

RELATED: Full article on Walker’s progress

Under-the-radar offseason acquisitions helping Diamondbacks

Paul Goldschmidt couldn’t remember whom he was talking to last winter. But he recalled whom he was talking about.

It was early February, about a week before the Diamondbacks reported to spring training, and Goldschmidt couldn’t figure out why free-agent infielder Daniel Descalso hadn’t signed with a team.

“I told some guys, ‘Man, he’s a great player,’” Goldschmidt said. “He did a great job for Colorado last year when (shortstop Trevor) Story got hurt, and he was a guy I always respected. He could play so many positions and have a quality at-bat every time.

“The next day, we signed him.”

MORE: Read the full article on D-Backs’ offseason acquisitions