Zack Godley keeping Padres silent through 3

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Godley OK through 3

Right-hander Zack Godley got off to a brilliant start by retiring the side in order to open Wednesday night’s game against the visiting Padres.

He got Manuel Margot to ground out to second and then struck out Cory Spangenberg and Wil Myers.

Godley, taking Shelby Miller’s place in the starting rotation for now, had trouble with his fastball location in the second inning. Yangervis Solarte greeted him with a leadoff double and after inducing a groundout, Godley walked two batters. He got out of the jam, however, by starting an inning-ending double play.

The Diamondbacks offense also picked him up when Paul Goldschmidt hit a run-scoring single to center in the first for a 1-0 lead. Godley allowed a base hit in the third, but no damage was done. He had three strikeouts through three innings.

The Diamondbacks entered the game having homered in the first inning in five consecutive games for the first time in club history. The last major league team to do that was the White Sox in 2005. The Diamondbacks failed to homer in the first on Wednesday, however.

The last team to homer in the first inning in six straight games was the Rockies in 1995.

Miller MRI forwarded to Dr. James Andrews

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said the team still is awaiting word on medical reports regarding starting pitcher Shelby Miller and the right-hander’s injured right arm.

MRI exams have been forwarded to a third surgeon, Dr. James Andrews, and it wasn’t clear on Wednesday afternoon if Andrews has had a chance to review them yet, Lovullo said.

“It’s not necessarily a third opinion,” Lovullo said before Wednesday’s game against the Padres. “It’s part of the plan that we had talked about all along where we were going to have this group look at it and come together and get as much information as we possibly could, and pass it along to Shelby and figure out what the best game plan is.

“So unfortunately, there’s not really an update.” 

Miller left his Sunday start against the Dodgers in the fifth inning after complaining of forearm tightness. That is usually an indication of elbow issues and the fear, of course, is that he may ultimately require Tommy John surgery.

Asked if no news was good news, Lovullo said, “Well, that’s an old adage, right? I’ve heard that my whole life. In this case, we haven’t got the news from Dr. Andrews, and maybe it’s good news, but we’re going to try to get as much input as we possibly can from three very, very qualified doctors – some of the best in the country – to weigh in and give us their opinion.”

Lovullo said Miller seems to be in a positive mood and is trying to be as patient as he can while he waits the final analysis. In the meantime, Miller’s situation has been hard on everyone, especially the first-year manager.

“It’s challenging,” Lovullo said. “Like I said the other night, these things are hard on me and I’m guessing it’s hard on every manager to have to watch one of your players walk off the mound and not be 100 percent and wait for a diagnosis, and you’re just not sure what’s going to happen. It’s very hard on me, but I shared that with Shelby and it makes me feel better that I can sit down and let him know how I’m feeling and when I express myself, as we all do, I feel a little bit better.

“But I know at some point I have to turn the page and get ready for (a) game. That’s my responsibility to this team, and I think everybody’s in the same boat. We hurt for Shelby, but tonight is a night where we’ve got to go out and compete and be ready for the San Diego Padres.”

Fun times

After Tuesday night’s 9-3 victory over the Padres, the Diamondbacks celebrated by blaring the stereo in their clubhouse with rap music, turning on a disco ball, and playing basketball on the new 7-foot-tall hoop that pitcher Taijuan Walker brought in to help his teammates kill some time.

“I love that stuff,” Lovullo said Wednesday.

“As long as there’s a separation and it’s the right time and the right moment. Hey, they work hard. They’re very focused. They’re pounding away at things for three and half hours and when you win a game, we need to celebrate that moment. They do a good job of separating the good, the bad and the ugly and when it’s time to turn the disco ball on, it’s going.”

Asked who the team’s ringleader is, Lovullo couldn’t say.

“I just know I see (reliever) Tom Wilhelmsen dancing a lot and I really enjoy that. It’s probably one of my favorite things to walk in on. He gets in his own world.”

There is value in a winning team blowing off some steam by having some post-game fun and hijinks.

“I think it’s great,” the manager said. “I think for these guys to celebrate the moment and step away from it and feel good about something is good for all of us. … I’ve watched things like that happen from the beginning of spring training when these guys came together as a group. That’s what makes it special. That’s what makes this group so special to me. I know that they care about one another.”

Teachable moment

During Tuesday night’s television broadcast, cameras caught first base and outfielder coach Dave McKay approaching left fielder Yasmany Tomas for a private chat in what later was confirmed to be a quick refresher course on how to jump and snare a potential line-drive home run.

Tomas failed miserably on such an attempt earlier in the game when Jabari Blash lined a shot just over his glove and into the seats.

What the cameras didn’t show, according to Lovullo, was Tomas telling McKay right away that he knew what he did wrong because he didn’t turn his body sideways to gain some clearance before jumping.

“And that’s what is pretty powerful,” Lovullo said, “when the player comes to you and says, ‘Hang on, this is what should have done. I know I did this the wrong way.’ I know a lot of times, people are wanting us to go out and yell and scream and kick these guys when they’re down after making a mistake, but that’s just not our style. We know based on their reaction when they’ve done something wrong, that they can come in and let us know … and that’s pretty powerful.”

Did You Know?

Diamondbacks pitching prospect Jon Duplantier, the team’s third-round draft pick a year ago out of Rice University, has yet to allow an earned run after four appearances and three starts for Kane County in the Class-A Midwest League.

The right-hander will look to extend his scoreless streak of 20.1 innings on Saturday when he faces the Beloit Snappers.

Duplantier has allowed just eight hits overall and has a 28-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio to begin his first full season in professional baseball.

Waiting for his turn

Right-hander Zack Godley, who is starting for the Diamondbacks tonight against the Padres, looked incredibly comfortable and relaxed upon reporting to work today.

He spent the past hour reclining in his locker with his feet up in street clothes before changing and later, going over the scouting report with tonight’s starting catcher, Jeff Mathis.

Godley, filling in for Shelby Miller, was 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA in three appearances (one start) with Triple-A Reno. He was named the Pacific Coast League’s Pitcher of the Week on Monday after tossing seven scoreless innings against Albuquerque, which included starting the game with six hitless frames.

Lineup

1. A.J. Pollock CF

2. David Peralta RF

3. Paul Goldschmidt 1B

4. Jake Lamb 3B

5. Yasmany Tomas LF

6. Brandon Drury 2B

7. Chris Owings SS

8. Jeff Mathis C

9. Zack Godley P

Note: David Peralta and Jake Lamb return to the lineup to face Padres right-hander Trevor Cahill.

PREGAME READING: Zack Godley welcomes opportunity to start for D-Backs

Wednesday’s game

Padres at Diamondbacks

When: 6:40 p.m.

Where: Chase Field.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (first start) vs. Padres RHP Trevor Cahill (1-2, 3.44).

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

Pregame notes

Godley has been inserted into the starting rotation in place of Shelby Miller. Godley was 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA for Triple-A Reno. In 17 2/3 innings he had struck out 15 batters and walked nine. Godley made 27 appearances for the Diamondbacks in 2016, going 5-4 with a 6.39 ERA. Cahill was brilliant his last time out, holding the Miami Marlins to three hits and one earned run in seven innings. He has a surprisingly high 21 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings.

Coming up

Thursday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (2-1, 4.57) vs. Padres RHP Jered Weaver (0-1, 3.91).

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-0, 3.42) vs. Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (2-1, 3.32).

Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (2-2, 2.93) vs. Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (1-3, 7.11).