Bats remain quiet for Diamondbacks vs. Nationals

Bats remain quiet for D-Backs vs. Nationals

Right-hander Max Scherzer had allowed just one hit through six innings, continuing to keep the Diamondbacks’ offense in check as the Nationals owned a 3-0 on Thursday afternoon going into the seventh inning.

Granted, Scherzer is one of baseball’s best pitchers, but (despite Jake Lamb’s solo home run in the seventh) the offense’s lack of production continued what has been a troubling early-season trend for the Diamondbacks. The team has not hit well outside of Chase Field.

Entering Thursday, the Diamondbacks were hitting just .215 with a .626 OPS on the road. Both numbers ranked last in the National League.

The Nationals chased right-hander Braden Shipley one batter into the fifth inning. Shipley, making his first start in the majors this season, issued six walks, tying a career high.

D-Backs, Shipley trail Nationals after 3

Right-hander Braden Shipley pitched himself into a pair of jams, and he and the Diamondbacks trailed the Nationals 3-0 after three innings on Thursday afternoon.

The Nationals loaded the bases in the second and third innings, scoring once in the second and twice in the third. Shipley had five walks, with three of them leading directly to runs.

Opposing pitcher Max Scherzer had a bases-loaded infield single in the second to make it 1-0. Anthony Rendon lined a two-run double over the head of left fielder Chris Herrmann in the third inning to give the Nationals a 3-0 lead.

D-Backs scratch Peralta from starting lineup

Right fielder David Peralta was listed in the original starting lineup posted in the Diamondbacks clubhouse on Thursday morning, but that changed after a meeting with manager Torey Lovullo.

Peralta missed the first two games of the series with flu-like symptoms, the same illness that’s been passed from player to player through the Diamondbacks clubhouse the past few weeks, and Lovullo said they’re giving Peralta one more day.

“We penciled him in the original lineup but he came in today and felt like he was still feeling the effects of his illness,” Lovullo said. “He wanted to have a good work day where he got a little sweat, got more functional movement and gear up to get ready for Colorado.”

It’s possible the Diamondbacks are being extra cautious after what happened with second baseman Brandon Drury, who started on Wednesday night but had to come out of the game after six innings because he was feeling weak and dizzy. Drury struck out in each of his three at-bats.

“I think we learned a lesson yesterday that this is an illness that these guys are having a tough time working through,” Lovullo said. “Overall body strength and a little bit of dizziness involved – when you’re talking about those two things in baseball, it’s not a good combination.”

Hazelbaker optioned to clear space for Shipley

In what manager Torey Lovullo described as a “tough situation,” the Diamondbacks optioned outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker to Triple-A Reno to make room for right-hander Braden Shipley, who will start on Thursday against the series finale against the Washington Nationals.

Hazelbaker had been a productive bat off the bench for the Diamondbacks in the season’s first month, going 8 for 26 (.308) with three extra-base hits and three walks. He hit his first home run of the season on Tuesday night against the Nationals.

“It was a tough decision,” Lovullo said. “He played well, did exactly what we wanted him to do. But sometimes this game can be unfair. It was a tough decision for us.”

The fact that Hazelbaker had options likely was a factor. If the club wanted to send out a bullpen arm, it would have had to risk losing a player like T.J. McFarland, Tom Wilhelmsen or Randall Delgado on waivers or option someone like Andrew Chafin, who has thrown well so far.

This move also preserves an extra arm for the bullpen heading into a three-game series at Coors Field, where teams often tax their pitching staffs.

Thursday’s game

When: 10:05 a.m.

Where: Nationals Park, Washington D.C.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Braden Shipley (3-1, 4.18)* vs. Nationals RHP Max Scherzer (3-2, 2.94).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM (620), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Shipley tossed six scoreless innings against Fresno in his most recent start for Triple-A Reno. … He has a 2.74 ERA in his past four starts, though has allowed an opponents’ average of .298 in that stretch. … Shipley had a 5.27 ERA in 13 games in the majors last season; he had an 8.06 ERA in his five losses and a 3.65 ERA in his other eight outings. … Scherzer, the reigning Cy Young winner, is getting the sort of results typical for him. Through five starts, he has 40 strikeouts and just nine walks in 33 2/3 innings. … Scherzer gave five runs in six innings, taking the loss last week against the Mets. … Scherzer is still averaging close to 95 mph with his fastball.

* — Stats from Triple-A Reno.

More D-Backs:: Flu-ridden Diamondbacks fall to Nationals

Starting lineup

It looked for a little while on Thursday morning that outfielder David Peralta might get inserted back into the lineup, but a revised card shows Chris Owings starting in right field. Peralta was among the first of the Diamondbacks to get the flu and he was ordered to stay at the team hotel on Tuesday. 

Coming up

Friday: At Colorado, 5:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (2-2, 3.19) vs. Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (1-3, 7.71).

Saturday: At Colorado, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (2-3, 2.29) vs. Rockies RHP German Marquez (0-1, 7.20).

Sunday: At Colorado, 12:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (3-1, 4.19) vs. Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood (2-4, 5.40).