• Diamondbacks fall 2-1 to Reds

    Diamondbacks fall 2-1 to Reds

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    Lovullo on the Diamondbacks’ loss to the Reds

  • Diamondbacks hold off Reds for 6-3 win

    Diamondbacks hold off Reds for 6-3 win

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    Shot Clock: 1 more chance for D-Backs’ Rodney?

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    Fernando Rodney after blown save vs. Dodgers

  • Torey Lovullo after Dodgers sweep D-Backs in LA

    Torey Lovullo after Dodgers sweep D-Backs in LA

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    Robbie Ray on his outing, tough loss vs. Dodgers

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' second consecutive loss in LA

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ second consecutive loss in LA

  • Zack Godley talks about his outing vs. Dodgers.

    Zack Godley talks about his outing vs. Dodgers.

  • Gregor Blanco after D-Backs' loss to Dodgers

    Gregor Blanco after D-Backs’ loss to Dodgers

  • Shot Clock: How should Suns, D-Backs prioritize improvement?

    Shot Clock: How should Suns, D-Backs prioritize improvement?

  • Chris Owings on Kershaw's night, D-Backs' late push

    Chris Owings on Kershaw’s night, D-Backs’ late push

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' late push in loss vs. Dodgers

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ late push in loss vs. Dodgers

  • Dodgers vs D-Backs preview

    Dodgers vs D-Backs preview

  • Lovullo, Marte, Walker discuss D-Backs' walk-off win

    Lovullo, Marte, Walker discuss D-Backs’ walk-off win

  • Four Diamondbacks react to making NL All-Star team

    Four Diamondbacks react to making NL All-Star team

  • Archie Bradley on D-Backs' win over Rockies

    Archie Bradley on D-Backs’ win over Rockies

  • Zack Greinke on his effective outing vs. Rockies

    Zack Greinke on his effective outing vs. Rockies

  • Robbie Ray on his outing in loss vs. Rockies

    Robbie Ray on his outing in loss vs. Rockies

  • Chris Owings homers twice in loss to Rockies

    Chris Owings homers twice in loss to Rockies

  • Torey Lovullo talks loss to Cardinals

    Torey Lovullo talks loss to Cardinals

  • D-Backs GM on Chase Field humidor being pushed back

    D-Backs GM on Chase Field humidor being pushed back

  • Lovullo, Godley reflect on D-Backs' close loss

    Lovullo, Godley reflect on D-Backs’ close loss

  • Tony La Russa reflects on his baseball life

    Tony La Russa reflects on his baseball life

  • Torey Lovullo shares Tomas, Pollock, Ahmed injury updates

    Torey Lovullo shares Tomas, Pollock, Ahmed injury updates

  • Chris Herrmann walks it off for D-Backs

    Chris Herrmann walks it off for D-Backs

  • D-Backs' Torey Lovullo: "They fight until the final out"

    D-Backs’ Torey Lovullo: “They fight until the final out”

  • Chris Herrmann on first career leadoff home run

    Chris Herrmann on first career leadoff home run

  • Zack Greinke on outing vs. Phillies

    Zack Greinke on outing vs. Phillies

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' offensive execution in win

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ offensive execution in win

  • Diamondbacks-Phillies recap - June 26

    Diamondbacks-Phillies recap – June 26

  • Diamondbacks walk off Philies in extra innings

    Diamondbacks walk off Philies in extra innings

  • Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Philadelphia Phillies | June 25, 2017

    Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Philadelphia Phillies | June 25, 2017

  • Ray on his outing against the Phillies

    Ray on his outing against the Phillies

  • Torey Lovullo on Diamondbacks' loss to Phillies

    Torey Lovullo on Diamondbacks’ loss to Phillies

  • Lovullo discusses the Diamondbacks' win over the Phillies

    Lovullo discusses the Diamondbacks’ win over the Phillies

  • Torey Lovullo after D-Backs win series vs. Rockies

    Torey Lovullo after D-Backs win series vs. Rockies

  • Paul Goldschmidt on D-Backs' offensive outburst

    Paul Goldschmidt on D-Backs’ offensive outburst

  • Zack Godley on strong outing at Coors Field

    Zack Godley on strong outing at Coors Field

  • D-Backs' Taijuan Walker on win over Rockies

    D-Backs’ Taijuan Walker on win over Rockies

  • Torey Lovullo after blowout win vs. Rockies

    Torey Lovullo after blowout win vs. Rockies

  • Torey Lovullo on decision to stick with Zack Greinke

    Torey Lovullo on decision to stick with Zack Greinke

  • Zack Greinke after loss vs. Rockies

    Zack Greinke after loss vs. Rockies

  • D-Backs suffer tough loss in Denver

    D-Backs suffer tough loss in Denver

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    Shot Clock: D-Backs, Rockies set for showdown

  • Torey Lovullo on Rey Fuentes' go-ahead homer

    Torey Lovullo on Rey Fuentes’ go-ahead homer

  • Rey Fuentes on hitting his first career home run

    Rey Fuentes on hitting his first career home run

  • Robbie Ray on his outing vs. Phillies

    Robbie Ray on his outing vs. Phillies

  • Manager Torey Lovullo after D-Backs' sixth consecutive win

    Manager Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ sixth consecutive win

  • Jake Lamb on D-Backs' latest win over Phillies

    Jake Lamb on D-Backs’ latest win over Phillies

  • Torey Lovullo talks about his late father's support, guidance

    Torey Lovullo talks about his late father’s support, guidance

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    Torey Lovullo on his father’s job in television

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' come-from-behind win over Phillies

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ come-from-behind win over Phillies

  • Gregor Blanco discusses his game-tying homer vs. Phillies

    Gregor Blanco discusses his game-tying homer vs. Phillies

  • Patrick Corbin on his performance vs. Phillies

    Patrick Corbin on his performance vs. Phillies

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' latest one-run win

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ latest one-run win

  • Taijuan Walker on his first outing back from the disabled list

    Taijuan Walker on his first outing back from the disabled list

  • David Peralta on his go-ahead homer in win over Tigers

    David Peralta on his go-ahead homer in win over Tigers

  • Torey Lovullo after D-Backs' win over Tigers

    Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ win over Tigers

  • Robbie Ray on D-Backs' win over Brewers

    Robbie Ray on D-Backs’ win over Brewers

  • Paul Goldschmidt on grand slam, offensive outburst

    Paul Goldschmidt on grand slam, offensive outburst

  • Godley on taking advantage of opportunity after D-Backs win

    Godley on taking advantage of opportunity after D-Backs win

  • Torey Lovullo after D-Backs' win over Brewers

    Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ win over Brewers

  • Randall Delgado on his rough outing against Brewers

    Randall Delgado on his rough outing against Brewers

  • Lovullo on Diamondbacks' loss to Brewers

    Lovullo on Diamondbacks’ loss to Brewers

  • Chris Iannetta on his career-high 7 RBIs vs. Padres

    Chris Iannetta on his career-high 7 RBIs vs. Padres

Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock looked like A.J. Pollock.

He stole a base, stretched out to make an impressive diving catch and clubbed a home run to account for the Diamondbacks’ lone tally in a 2-1 loss to the Reds Sunday at Chase Field.

It was perhaps his best game since he returned last Tuesday from almost two months on the disabled list with a strained right groin.

But Pollock won’t be able to build off that momentum in the next few days. He’ll have to wait until after the All-Star break, a layoff that may be coming at an opportune time for a Diamondbacks team that has dropped eight of its past 11, but is also pausing Pollock just when he seems to be finding a groove.

“I feel like I’m just getting in a rhythm,” he said. “But nah, it’s good. Got a couple games in. Take a couple days off and excited to get back at it.”

RELATED: Following series of losses, D-Backs aiming for rebound after All-Star break

Sunday was Pollock’s fourth start since he rejoined the team. He’s gone 3-for-16 and while he hasn’t been able to make much contact, he’s felt he’s had some solid at-bats.

“Just kind of getting back up here and getting adjusted again,” Pollock said.

More reps rather than rest would seem to be what Pollock needs most right now, but manager Torey Lovullo believes the break will be helpful because of how hard Pollock worked during his rehab to get healthy.

“He’s been grinding, trying to get back here for us,” Lovullo said. “So I look for good things in the second half from A.J.”

Rotation set

Right-hander Taijuan Walker will start the Diamondbacks’ first game after the All-Star break Friday in Atlanta against the Braves with left-hander Patrick Corbin going Saturday and right-hander Zack Godley slotting Sunday.

The team’s rotation for its next series is designed this way to give All-Stars Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray rest coming out of the break.

Break plans

The team’s crew of All-Stars aren’t the only players leaving the Valley for the break.

Catcher Jeff Mathis is off to Florida with his family where he plans to go to the beach and play a few rounds of golf. Reliever Archie Bradley is visiting Block Island near Rhode Island.

“Definitely no schedule. No agenda,” Bradley said. “Sleep in as late as I can and stay up as late as I can. Some good food, some relaxation and really just clear the mind.”

Lovullo will also be on the move, going to California. He’ll use the downtime to rehash the first half but also prepare for the rest of the season.

“I’ll definitely reflect on a few things and ask myself what I can do to improve and make sure I’m giving this organization everything that I possibly can for the most important part of the year,” Lovullo said. “I’m going to reflect, and I’ll also look forward to what some of my own personal expectations are, as well as what the team’s expectations should be.”

Memorable start

Arizona may have sputtered into the break, but the team’s overwhelming success to date will define its first half. And Lovullo feels the team’s first 10 days of the season “validated what direction we were going in,” with an Opening-Day triumph over the Giants the first of many gutsy wins.

“I was really satisfied with the way we started because we worked so hard in spring training, and it was a reward for these players to understand all that hard work they put in was going to pay off in the way it did,” Lovullo said. “Opening Day seemed to set a very good tone for us. It was a huge walk-off win. I know we beat Madison Bumgarner, and nobody’s giving us a chance in that game except for the 25 guys in that room. That’s probably the tone that it set from that win and that day is that 25 guys are ready to battle every single day.”

RELATED: D-Backs looking for answers against left-handed pitchers

MORE: Luis Gonzalez can empathize with what Shane Doan went through

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Coming up

Monday-Thursday: All-Star break.

Friday: At Atlanta, 4:35 p.m. Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker vs. Braves TBA.

Saturday: At Atlanta, 4:10 p.m. Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin vs. Braves TBA.

Sunday: At Atlanta, 10:35 a.m. Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley vs. Braves TBA.