D-Backs’ Zack Godley cruising against Tigers

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Godley cruising

Right-hander Zack Goldey has settled in after giving up a run in the second. He’s retired 11 straight through the sixth, an effort that certainly doesn’t hurt his bid to lock up that fifth spot in the rotation.

This is Godley’s second start since right-hander Shelby Miller went down with elbow problems. He gave up two runs in five innings in his first look April 26 against the Padres but has looked better in Try No. 2 with six strikeouts and 12 outs from ground balls.

Flashing some leather

The Diamondbacks took a 2-1 lead after three innings thanks in part to its defense, something that has been a trouble spot this year.

In the second inning, third baseman Jake Lamb started a 5-4-3 double play to get Godley out of a two-on, one-out jam, and in the third inning Paul Goldschmidt turned a 3-6-1 double play to end the inning.

Nick Ahmed has hit a solo homer for Arizona.

Miller undergoes surgery

Diamondbacks right-hander Shelby Miller underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday in Los Angeles to correct elbow problems that surfaced earlier this season.

The team didn’t have an update on how the procedure went, but manager Torey Lovullo expected Miller to return to the clubhouse in a couple of days.

“I exchanged texts with Shelby this morning before he went into surgery,” Lovullo said. “ … It’s a tough day for us. We know one of our family members is in surgery and going to be gone for a little bit – 15 months he’s going to be missing from us. But he’s not forgotten, and I want him to know we’re thinking about him through this process.”

Miller opted for surgery at the end of April after tests revealed a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament in addition to a flexor tendon strain. He experienced tightness in his forearm during his April 23 start against the Dodgers.

After undergoing an MRI and visiting with team physician Dr. Gary Waslewski, Miller received a second opinion from orthopedist Dr. Neal ElAttrache and then had Dr. James Andrew review his medical reports.

Although the 26-year-old could have chose rest and rehab rather than surgery, Miller decided the surgical option made the most sense for him.

During the procedure, the ulnar collateral ligament is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body. ElAttrache performed the surgery.

Before getting sidelined, Miller had been in the midst of a bounce-back season after a disastrous 2016 that included a demotion to the minors. He finished 2017 at 2-2 with a 4.09 ERA.

“I think it’ll make me feel better when I see him, I know that for sure,” Lovullo said. “I’m hoping that he’ll feel the same when he sees all of his teammates and he’ll see everybody pulling for him. I know that’ll lift his spirits.”

Roster move

The Diamondbacks placed left-handed reliever T.J. McFarland on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday with a left ankle contusion, a move that opened up a roster spot for right-hander Zack Godley – who was added from Triple-A Reno to start Wednesday.

McFarland was injured in Tuesday’s game, getting struck in the left ankle by a James McCann line drive in the sixth. Although he was able to corral the ball in time to throw to first, McFarland was limping afterward and left the game.

“X-rays were clean,” McFarland said. “A little bit of inflammation, soreness, stiffness, so right now we’re just trying to get that out of there. But good news is, as of right now with the X-rays, there was no fracture or anything.”

Before getting sidelined, McFarland had been an effective option for Arizona. In five games, he’d gone 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA.

“Very frustrating,” McFarland said. “Nobody likes to go on the D.L. Nobody wants to take time off, especially when you feel good – especially when you want to help the team out. And I don’t want to come out of the game there. It puts more pressure on the bullpen. It’s tough.”

Auditions continue

Wednesday was Godley’s second start with auditions for the vacant No. 5 starting job continuing, but the options for locking down that spot don’t currently include right-hander Archie Bradley, as Lovullo reiterated the plan right now is to keep Bradley in the bullpen.

“I’m not saying that it will never happen and whether it happens next year or sometime during the course of this year, we’re going to make sure that whatever we’re doing, it’s in the best interest of this team each and every day,” Lovullo said. “Archie’s been outstanding in the bullpen, and I think the common denominator here is, why we would we take him out of a role that he’s been fairly dominant in when we need him in that role?”

Lovullo, however, does believe a long-term solution for the spot is inside the organization.

“We want somebody to take that role, take that lead,” Lovullo said, “and say, ‘I got you covered. This is mine.’”

Lineup

1. A.J. Pollock CF

2. Chris Owings RF

3. Paul Goldschmidt 1B

4. Jake Lamb 3B

5. Yasmany Tomas LF

6. Brandon Drury 2B

7. Chris Iannetta C

8. Nick Ahmed SS

9. Zack Godley P

Wednesday’s game

Tigers at Diamondbacks

When: 6:40 p.m.

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

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (0-0, 3.60) vs. Tigers LHP Matthew Boyd (2-2, 3.78).

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

This will be the second time Godley has started since a spot opened up in the rotation when right-hander Shelby Miller went down with elbow problems; in his first look, Godley gave up two runs in five innings April 26. … In an ensuing start in Triple-A, he allowed four runs (one earned) off just two hits in 6 1/3 innings. … Overall, Godley is 2-0 with a 0.68 ERA in two starts with Reno. … Boyd has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last two starts but is winless in both games; he gave up three runs in each appearance. … This will be Boyd’s first career game against the Diamondbacks. … He carries a 5.68 ERA this season on the road.

Coming up

Thursday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (3-2, 3.09) vs. Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole (1-3, 3.14 ERA)

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (2-4, 3.89) vs. Pirates RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-2, 6.33).

Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (3-2, 3.83) vs. Pirates RHP Trevor Williams (1-2, 7.98).