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There was a time this season when right-hander Taylor Clarke might have been the Diamondbacks’ most reliable reliever, but his struggles since returning from a shoulder injury continued Sunday in a 10-4, 11-inning loss to the Seattle Mariners.
Clarke faced three batters to open the 11th inning, walking the first two before serving up a go-ahead double to Kyle Seager. In 13 games since coming back from a right shoulder strain, Clarke has given up 10 earned runs on 18 hits and five walks.
“He’s just trying to place the baseball instead of throwing it,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “Falling behind in counts and then having to throw middle-middle pitches that the hitters aren’t missing.”
Reporters asked to speak with Clarke after the game but were told through a team spokesman that he was unavailable. This season, that has often been the case with players who are in the process of being sent down, and while Lovullo was not asked directly if that were the case with Clarke, he seemed to at least suggest it was an option. Lovullo said the club was trying to “figure out the best solutions moving forward” with Clarke.
The Diamondbacks were swept in three games by the Mariners, who handed them their fifth consecutive series loss. They have lost eight of their past nine and 12 of 16. At 45-93, they own a .326 winning percentage, putting them on pace for 109 losses.
Left-hander Tyler Gilbert turned in a solid outing, giving up three runs in seven innings, a line that might have looked better had his defenders played better behind him.
The same could not be said of Clarke’s outing. Starting with the automatic runner on second, he issued walks to Mitch Haniger and Ty France, then fell behind Kyle Seager, who laced a 2-0 fastball down the first-base line for a two-run double.
That opened the door for a seven-run outburst from the Mariners, who continued to pile on runs against relievers Sean Poppen and Brett de Geus.
In May and June, Clarke pitched his way into a trusted, late-inning role, relying on his mid-90s fastball along with his slider and change-up. But he came down with a teres major strain in his right shoulder, an injury that cost him more than six weeks. He has not been as reliable since.
“He was a back-end guy that was very, very reliable and I was continuing to give him that opportunity,” Lovullo said. “I feel very strongly he’s got the stuff. He’s just got to get it done.”
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