• Torey Lovullo talks D-Backs' strategy in loss to Braves

    Torey Lovullo talks D-Backs’ strategy in loss to Braves

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    Taijuan Walker on his night vs. Braves

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    Shot Clock: D-Backs’ trade deadline ideas

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    Shot Clock: Playoffs for D-Backs and Suns?

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    Diamondbacks fall 2-1 to Reds

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    Lovullo on the Diamondbacks’ loss to the Reds

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    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

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    Torey Lovullo after Dodgers sweep D-Backs in LA

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    Robbie Ray on his outing, tough loss vs. Dodgers

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

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    Zack Godley talks about his outing vs. Dodgers.

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    Gregor Blanco after D-Backs’ loss to Dodgers

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

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

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

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    Dodgers vs D-Backs preview

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

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    Four Diamondbacks react to making NL All-Star team

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    Archie Bradley on D-Backs’ win over Rockies

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    Zack Greinke on his effective outing vs. Rockies

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    Robbie Ray on his outing in loss vs. Rockies

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    Chris Owings homers twice in loss to Rockies

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    Torey Lovullo talks loss to Cardinals

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    D-Backs GM on Chase Field humidor being pushed back

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    Lovullo, Godley reflect on D-Backs’ close loss

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    Tony La Russa reflects on his baseball life

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    Torey Lovullo shares Tomas, Pollock, Ahmed injury updates

  • Chris Herrmann walks it off for D-Backs

    Chris Herrmann walks it off for D-Backs

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

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    Chris Herrmann on first career leadoff home run

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    Zack Greinke on outing vs. Phillies

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    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ offensive execution in win

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    Diamondbacks-Phillies recap – June 26

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    Diamondbacks walk off Philies in extra innings

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    Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Philadelphia Phillies | June 25, 2017

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    Ray on his outing against the Phillies

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    Torey Lovullo on Diamondbacks’ loss to Phillies

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    Lovullo discusses the Diamondbacks’ win over the Phillies

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    Torey Lovullo after D-Backs win series vs. Rockies

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    Paul Goldschmidt on D-Backs’ offensive outburst

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    Zack Godley on strong outing at Coors Field

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    D-Backs’ Taijuan Walker on win over Rockies

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    Torey Lovullo after blowout win vs. Rockies

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    Torey Lovullo on decision to stick with Zack Greinke

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    Zack Greinke after loss vs. Rockies

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    D-Backs suffer tough loss in Denver

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    Shot Clock: D-Backs, Rockies set for showdown

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    Torey Lovullo on Rey Fuentes’ go-ahead homer

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    Rey Fuentes on hitting his first career home run

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    Robbie Ray on his outing vs. Phillies

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    Manager Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ sixth consecutive win

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    Jake Lamb on D-Backs’ latest win over Phillies

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

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    Torey Lovullo on his father’s job in television

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

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    Gregor Blanco discusses his game-tying homer vs. Phillies

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    Patrick Corbin on his performance vs. Phillies

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

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    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

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    Paul Goldschmidt on grand slam, offensive outburst

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    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

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    Randall Delgado on his rough outing against Brewers

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    Lovullo on Diamondbacks’ loss to Brewers

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

ATLANTA – When they failed in consecutive at-bats to get a runner home from third with less than two out in the eighth inning, then watched as the Atlanta Braves gifted them the go-ahead run anyway on a two-out, two-strike wild pitch, it felt like another of those games the Diamondbacks have been winning all season.

But instead of a one-run victory built on fundamental baseball – and on taking advantage of their opponents’ miscues – it turned into a one-run loss borne of their own mistakes. Or, in a more charitable view, a loss brought upon by an unusual turn of events on a routine single to left in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Either way, the Diamondbacks’ 4-3 loss to the Braves at a brand new SunTrust Park on Friday night was not the sort of opening note they wanted to sound to start the season’s proverbial second half.

The loss was the Diamondbacks’ ninth in their past 12 games, and a four-day rest during the All-Star break did little to improve their recent luck with runners in scoring position. They went 2 for 11 on Friday and are 14 for 88 (.159) during the 12-game slump.

And yet the Diamondbacks still found themselves in position to beat the Braves, handing a one-run lead to their best reliever, Archie Bradley, to open the bottom of the eighth. In the top of the inning, Chris Owings singled, moved to third on a stolen base/throwing error, then scampered home to make it 3-2 when Braves reliever Jose Ramirez spiked a change-up.

But the Braves didn’t trail long. Back-to-back hits by Ender Inciarte (infield single) and Brandon Phillies (double to right) put runners on second and third for Freddie Freeman, the Braves’ best hitter. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he considered putting Freeman on but decided a bases-loaded, nobody-out situation was “a lot of ground to cover” for Bradley.

“We just figured that Archie was the guy to attack guys and he’d get us out of the mess,” Lovullo said.

MORE: D-Backs facing key questions as postseason pursuit resumes

That’s when things got weird. Freeman rifled an 0-1 fastball into left for a clean base hit, a ball that looked like an easy two-run single. Instead, just as left fielder Gregor Blanco was picking it up, Phillips stumbled and fell rounding third.

“I saw him right in front of me going around third, so I thought he was going to score easy,” Blanco said. “I started thinking more about the runner on first base and just making a quick throw to second.”

Phillips scrambled to his feet off third, and when he saw Blanco’s slow, two-hop throw going in to second, he raced home uncontested. First base/outfield coach Dave McKay was visibly upset in the Diamondbacks’ dugout.

Blanco said he thought he made the right play, given the timing of when he got the ball in relation to where Phillips was. McKay did not agree. He said Blanco needed to throw the ball firmly back to the infield.

“You don’t expect the guy to fall, but you don’t assume anything either,” McKay said. “That’s one thing we talk about – you go hard after the ball and you get it in as quick as you can. Don’t assume anything. It’s a good lesson.”

Added McKay: “Those are the little things you do that ends up becoming winning baseball. You’ve only got one thing to do – go firm after the ball and, as quick as you can, get it back into the infield. We’ll talk about that tomorrow.”

The Diamondbacks could also second-guess another moment from earlier in the game. With the score tied and the bases loaded in the sixth, they sent pitcher Taijuan Walker to the plate with one out. He grounded into an inning-ending double play. The next half-inning, Freeman took Walker deep for a go-ahead, solo homer.

“I figured that, had we hit for Taijuan, they had guys ready in the bullpen and they would have matched up,” he said. “And I thought, in the sixth inning, to lose matchups and burn a two-for-one, it just wasn’t something I wanted to do.”

Walker was called out at first on a bang-bang play; Lovullo said he did not challenge it because his video staff did not think it would get overturned.

POWER RANKINGS: Where Diamondbacks stand entering second half of season

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Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.