Torey Lovullo feels special connection to Tigers

The Diamondbacks and Tigers open a 2-game series at Chase Field on Tuesday. Keep coming back for updates throughout the game.

Torey Lovullo smacked his first career hit during his first major-league at-bat with the Tigers at Yankee Stadium, and his second knock was also memorable.

Deadlocked at 3 through 17 innings on Sept.11, 1988, Lovullo pushed the Tigers ahead by one run in the top of the 18th with his RBI single. But in just a matter of minutes, a 4-3 lead was flipped into a 5-4 loss after Claudell Washington launched a two-run homer to end the marathon.

“I went from about as high as you can feel to wanting to cry rather quickly,” Lovullo said. “But it was a good feeling for me to walk back into the dugout because one man was waiting for me. That was Sparky Anderson.”

Arizona’s manager reflected on his start with Detroit Tuesday with the Tigers visiting Chase Field for a brief two-game series, the organization’s first trip to the Valley since 2014. In total, Lovullo played 41 games with the Tigers before continuing his playing career with six other teams.

“I really loved my years there with them,” he said. “When we play the Tigers, no matter where I’m at, I always have a special fondness to that ball club.”

Being a family, on and off the field, is the type of atmosphere Lovullo remembers Anderson fostering as the team’s longtime manager, and he felt welcomed from the get-go. Lovullo called Anderson one of the best men he’s ever met.

“I remember this older man that had such a sensitive way about him turned into an absolute tiger, for a lack of a better word, for nine innings,” Lovullo said. “He had tremendous balance, and it’s just hard to believe he’s not here anymore. I thought he was going to live forever.”

Order up

The Diamondbacks used a familiar lineup Tuesday against the Tigers, sliding their regulars in their usual spots – in the field and the batting order – and Lovullo believes knowing what to expect can eliminate stress for a player.

“I think it’s the same for anybody in life,” he said. “When you’re going down the street to your favorite coffee shop, you know the route you’re going to take. You know the order you’re going to make. You know where you’re going to sit in the coffee house. We’re all creatures of habits, and these players are the same way. … It’s just a good frame of mind when you know what’s going on every single day before you walk into the ballpark. Helps you get mentally prepared for the moment.”

In a groove

Arizona won just twice on its now-completed six-game road trip to Washington and Colorado.

Starter Zack Greinke was on the mound for one victory.

The other?

Left-handed reliever T.J. McFarland, who needed only 11 pitches to toss a scoreless 1 1/3 innings May 2 against the Nationals en route to a 6-3 win.

McFarland made two more appearances on the trip, throwing another scoreless inning the next game and then giving up one run in two innings Saturday against the Rockies.

Overall, he’s 1-0 in four games with a 1.69 ERA since getting added from Triple-A Reno at the end of April.

“He’s throwing the ball very well,” Lovullo said. “It seems like he’s gotten his delivery in sync. I know when he came to spring training he was a little behind. I know that he was a work in progress and started to throw the ball very, very well for us when he was sent out at the end of camp and seemed to really pick up some momentum when he was sent out to Reno.

“That continues to be the case. Quick, easy outs. Extremely, extremely good two-seam fastball and can pitch in any type of situation. I wouldn’t be afraid to put him in a leverage moment.”

Familiar foe

If the Diamondbacks need a detailed scouting report on Wednesday’s starter for the Tigers, third baseman Jake Lamb could probably offer up plenty of insight.

Lamb and Detroit left-hander Matthew Boyd grew up competing against each other in Washington before both joined Pac-12 schools, with Lamb representing the University of Washington and Boyd attending Oregon State.

“I never played against him in the minor leagues, but I’m always keeping up with local guys whether it’s checking on Twitter or checking MLB, MiLB.com,” Lamb said. “Yeah, it’s just cool. We go to the same trainer type thing in the offseason, so we catch up. We talk about the season. We talk about all that stuff. It’s cool.”

This may be the Diamondbacks’ first meeting with the Tigers since 2014, but Lovullo is quite familiar with right-hander Justin Verlander from his previous coaching stints in the American League with the Red Sox and Blue Jays.

“I’ve seen him for a lot of years. I’ve watched him in some incredibly big games and incredibly big moments,” Lovullo said. “An intense competitor that is not going to back down from anything, and he’s going to fight you until the last pitch he makes. I think that’s a challenge that every team should embrace, and I think our guys will be ready for that win or lose.”

Verlander has made only two career starts against Arizona and has won both games, posting a 1.84 ERA and striking out 19.

Lineup

LHP Robbie Ray gets the start for Arizona, with Jeff Mathis catching.

Here’s the complete Diamondbacks’ lineup:

Short hops

• The Diamondbacks are 12-5 at home and own the third-best home win percentage in the Majors (.706).
• First baseman Paul Goldschmidt is hitting .390 over his last 17 games with four doubles, five home runs, 20 RBIs and 11 walks.
• This is the Diamondbacks’ first matchup against the Tigers since they hosted Detroit in 2014. Overall, this is the Tigers’ sixth visit to Phoenix with the Diamondbacks winning four of the five series (9-6 record).

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Get to know the Detroit Tigers

The Tigers enter the series with a 15-15 record. They haven’t won more than three in a row this season and haven’t lost more than four. They were beaten in walkoff fashion in consecutive games in Oakland over the weekend. They are averaging 5.0 runs per game, the second-best mark in the American League and fifth-best in the majors.

Their pitching, however, has been the worst in the majors with a 4.83 ERA, numbers dragged down by the Tigers bullpen, which ranks last with a 5.93 ERA.

While closer RHP Francisco Rodriguez has allowed 11 earned runs in 11 2/3 innings, several Tigers relievers actually have thrown well, including LHP Justin Wilson, RHP Shane Greene and RHP Alex Wilson.

Left fielder Justin Upton has the best numbers of any of the Tigers’ regulars, hitting .264/.385/.484 with five homers. 3B Nick Castellanos also is producing, with 16 extra-base hits, including 10 doubles.

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Tuesday’s game

Tigers at Diamondbacks

When: 6:40 p.m.

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

Pitchers: Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-2, 3.47) vs. Tigers RHP Justin Verlander (2-2, 4.21).

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

Ray was dominant in his outing last week in Washington, giving up two runs in six innings with one walk and 10 strikeouts. … He has struck out at least six in each of his six starts, reaching 10 strikeouts twice. … This will be Ray’s first time facing the Tigers, with whom he made his major league debut in 2014. The Diamondbacks acquired him in a three-team deal that sent SS Didi Gregorius to the New York Yankees. … Verlander has thrown well in his past two starts, giving up two earned runs combined in 14 innings against the Mariners and Indians. … He has thrown 107 pitches or more four times already this season. … He averaged 95.3 mph with his fastball in April, the highest it has been in the season’s first month since 2011.

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Coming Up

Wednesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (0-0, 3.60) vs. Tigers LHP Matt Boyd (2-2, 3.78).

Thursday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (3-2, 3.09) vs. Pirates RHP Chad Kuhl (1-2, 5.54).

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (2-4, 3.89) vs. Pirates RHP Garrit Cole (1-3, 3.14).

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