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Dan Bickley wraps up another bad start in D-Backs’ Game 2 loss | 1:55
azcentral sports columnist Dan Bickley discusses what’s ailing the Diamondbacks after Saturday’s NLDS Game 2 loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
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Robbie Ray after D-Backs’ Game 2 loss | 0:53
Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray discusses the approach the Dodgers had against him in Saturday’s NLDS Game 2 in Los Angeles.
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Piecoro, Bickley preview NLDS Game 2, D-Backs’ lineup changes | 2:36
azcentral sports Diamondbacks insider Nick Piecoro and columnist Dan Bickley preview Saturday’s NLDS Game 2 in Los Angeles as Robbie Ray takes the mound and Chris Iannetta and Jake Lamb return to the lineup.
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Dan Bickley wraps up D-Backs’ Game 1 loss to Dodgers | 1:49
azcentral sports columnist Dan Bickley wraps up the Diamondbacks’ NLDS Game 1 loss to the Dodgers, discussing Torey Lovullo’s rough night and the need for an ace performance from Robbie Ray in Game 2, in Los Angeles on Friday.
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Nick Piecoro, Dan Bickley preview NLDS Game 1 from LA | 3:11
azcentral sports Diamondbacks insider Nick Piecoro and columnist Dan Bickley preview Friday’s NLDS Game 1, including some potential reasons why Jeff Mathis is starting over Chris Iannetta and why Jake Lamb is on the bench.
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Shot Clock: D-Day for Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers | 1:59
azcentral sports’ Mark Faller and Sarah McLellan discuss the NLDS. Do the Diamondbacks have some things going in their favor?
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Shot Clock: Lovullo’s decisions work for D-Backs | 2:04
azcentral sports’ Greg Moore and Jay Dieffenbach discuss the Diamondbacks’ win over the Rockies.
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Reaction to Archie Bradley’s triple | 1:35
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Archie Bradley recounts his RBI triple against the Colorado Rockies in the NL wild card game.
Michael Chow/azcentral.com
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Who starts against the Dodgers? | 0:57
Arizona Diamondbacks manager gives his thoughts on who starts game one against the Dodgers in the NLDS on Friday.
Michael Chow/azcentral.com
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Diamondbacks win wild one over Rockies | 2:10
Azcentral’s Scott Bordow and Greg Moore break down the Arizona Diamondback’s 11-8 win over the Colorado Rockies in the NL wild card game.
Michael Chow/azcentral.com
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What happened in that Diamondbacks Rockies wild-card game? Everything | 3:13
Some games have it all and the NL wild-card game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies was one of then. Sarah McLellan and Scott Bordow from azcentral sports break it down.
Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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Shot Clock: D-Backs vs. Rockies in wild card | 2:57
azcentral sports’ Mark Faller and Greg Moore preview the D-Backs’ wild-card game.
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Paul Goldschmidt and J.D. Martinez share insights on each other | 1:59
Arizona Diamondbacks sluggers Paul Goldschmidt and J.D. Martinez share insights on each other before the wild-card game against the Rockies.
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Greinke looks ahead to his wild-card start | 1:50
Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke talks about the National League wild-card game on Wednesday at Chase Field.
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Lovullo discusses the wild-card game against the Rockies | 1:16
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo discusses the wild-card game against the Colorado Rockies.
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Shot Clock: Zack’s comfort dog? Wild-card preview | 1:57
azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley discuss the Diamondbacks roster for the wild card game against the Rockies.
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Piecoro, Moore on D-Backs’ preparations ahead of wild-card game | 3:11
azcentral sports Diamondbacks insider Nick Piecoro and columnist Greg Moore discuss how the Diamondbacks are preparing for the NL wild-card game from Chase Field on Monday. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
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Lovullo on Martinez: ‘As good a hitter … that I’ve been around’ | 1:16
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo discusses the work ethic that slugger J.D. Martinez brings to the plate for his club on Monday. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
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D-Backs’ Pollock on facing Rockies starter Jon Gray | 0:50
Diamondbacks outfielder A.J. Pollock discusses facing Rockies starter Jon Gray, whom they will face in the NL wild-card game, during a press conference at Chase Field on Monday. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
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Torey Lovullo on Paul Goldschmidt’s stats, focus | 0:53
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo discusses how Paul Goldschmidt thinks when it comes to stats and the upcoming NL wild-card game during a press conference on Monday. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
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D-Backs’ Pollock on security concerns for wild-card game | 0:33
Diamondbacks outfielder A.J. Pollock addresses security concerns for wild-card game after Las Vegas shooting on Monday. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
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D-Backs’ manager Torey Lovullo on Walker, Bradley vs. Royals | 1:30
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about Taijuan Walker’s impressive start and Archie Bradley’s shaky outing.
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Archie Bradley after loss to Royals | 1:36
Diamondbacks reliever Archie Bradley talks about what went wrong in his outing against the Royals on Saturday night.
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Torey Lovullo after Greinke’s loss vs. Royals | 1:08
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo discusses Zack Greinke’s final tune-up before his anticipated start in the wild-card game on Wednesday.
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Zack Greinke on his outing vs. Royals | 1:17
Diamondbacks right-hander Zack Greinke talks about his start (four-plus innings, two runs) vs. the Royals on Friday night in Kansas City.
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J.D. Martinez’s on his record-tying home run | 1:02
With a solo shot in the ninth inning on Wednesday, J.D. Martinez tied a National League record with his 16th home run in September.
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David Peralta on his walk-off walk, J.D. Martinez’s hitting | 2:03
Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta talks about his game-winning walk and J.D. Martinez’s recent tear at the plate.
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J.D. Martinez on his hot streak, D-Backs’ win over Giants | 1:01
Slugger J.D. Martinez hit his 28th homer in his 58th game with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.
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Paul Goldschmidt after D-Backs clinch wild card spot | 0:50
Slugger Paul Goldschmidt in the celebratory clubhouse after the Diamondbacks clinched a wild card spot.
Nick Piecoro/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks celebrate playoff berth | 0:44
After clinching a National League wild card berth earlier in the day, the D-Backs celebrated securing home field with a walk-off win over the Miami Marlins.
Scott Bordow/azcentral sports
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Fernando Rodney on his 300th career save | 1:07
Diamondbacks closer Fernando Rodney speaks after recording his 300th save in a win over the Marlins on Friday.
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Chris Iannetta on his 8-RBI night in D-Backs’ win | 1:11
Diamondbacks catcher Chris Iannetta discusses his eight-RBI night in Arizona’s win over the Marlins on Friday.
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Archie Bradley answers questions from reporters – and J.D. Martinez | 1:43
Diamondbacks reliever Archie Bradley talks with reporters about his RBI single in the eighth, then answers questions from teammate J.D. Martinez.
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Torey Lovullo after D-Backs avoid sweep in San Diego | 1:32
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about his team’s 13-7 come-from-behind win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.
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A.J. Pollock on his two-homer game vs. Padres | 1:11
Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock talks about the two home runs he hit on Tuesday night in San Diego.
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Taijuan Walker on shaky outing vs. Giants | 1:12
Right-hander Taijuan Walker gave up four runs in five innings against the Giants, who beat the Diamondbacks 7-2 on Sunday afternoon.
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Zack Greinke after 2-0 win over Giants | 1:48
Diamondbacks right-hander Zack Greinke gave up two hits in eight scoreless innings against the Giants on Saturday night.
Nick Piecoro/azcentral sports
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Torey Lovullo on Greinke’s dominant start vs. Giants | 1:38
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about ace Zack Greinke’s eight shutout innings on Saturday evening against the San Francisco Giants.
Nick Piecoro/azcentral sports
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Robbie Ray after 10-strikeout game vs. Giants | 1:36
Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray talks about his performance in a 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at AT&T Park.
Nick Piecoro/azcentral sports
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Archie Bradley on baseball and beards | 3:14
Diamondbacks reliever Archie Bradley discusses the energy associated with his appearances as a reliever and his beard. Patrick Breen/azcentral sports
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Torey Lovullo on Pollock’s two-run double, Ray’s outing | 1:24
Manager Torey Lovullo talks about the Diamondbacks’ 3-2 win over the Giants on Friday night.
Nick Piecoro/azcentral sports
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Zack Godley on his outing against the Rockies | 0:54
Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Godley discusses his play against Colorado.
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Torey Lovullo on big win over Rockies | 1:04
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo discusses his team’s win over Colorado on Thursday.
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Paul Goldschmidt downplays his 1,000th career hit | 1:12
Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt wasn’t too interested in discussing his 1,000th career hit on Wednesday night.
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Lovullo discusses his team’s win over the Rockies | 2:02
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo on his team’s win over Colorado on Wednesday night.
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D-Backs’ A.J. Pollock on his three-hit night | 1:08
Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock talks about his three-hit night against the Colorado Rockies.
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Coyotes take batting practice at Chase Field | 1:21
Coyotes players took batting practice at Chase Field before the Diamondbacks hosted the Padres Friday.
Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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Torey Lovullo on the end of the D-Backs’ win streak | 1:40
Manager Torey Lovullo, left-hander Patrick Corbin and third baseman Jake Lamb react to the 10-6 loss.
Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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Paul Goldschmidt says his elbow is structurally sound | 2:16
Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt talks about the results of Tuesday’s MRI exam on his right elbow.
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Dan Bickley wraps up another bad start in D-Backs’ Game 2 loss
Robbie Ray after D-Backs’ Game 2 loss
Piecoro, Bickley preview NLDS Game 2, D-Backs’ lineup changes
Dan Bickley wraps up D-Backs’ Game 1 loss to Dodgers
Nick Piecoro, Dan Bickley preview NLDS Game 1 from LA
Shot Clock: D-Day for Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers
Shot Clock: Lovullo’s decisions work for D-Backs
Reaction to Archie Bradley’s triple
Who starts against the Dodgers?
Diamondbacks win wild one over Rockies
What happened in that Diamondbacks Rockies wild-card game? Everything
Shot Clock: D-Backs vs. Rockies in wild card
Paul Goldschmidt and J.D. Martinez share insights on each other
Greinke looks ahead to his wild-card start
Lovullo discusses the wild-card game against the Rockies
Shot Clock: Zack’s comfort dog? Wild-card preview
Piecoro, Moore on D-Backs’ preparations ahead of wild-card game
Lovullo on Martinez: ‘As good a hitter … that I’ve been around’
D-Backs’ Pollock on facing Rockies starter Jon Gray
Torey Lovullo on Paul Goldschmidt’s stats, focus
D-Backs’ Pollock on security concerns for wild-card game
D-Backs’ manager Torey Lovullo on Walker, Bradley vs. Royals
Archie Bradley after loss to Royals
Torey Lovullo after Greinke’s loss vs. Royals
Zack Greinke on his outing vs. Royals
J.D. Martinez’s on his record-tying home run
David Peralta on his walk-off walk, J.D. Martinez’s hitting
J.D. Martinez on his hot streak, D-Backs’ win over Giants
Paul Goldschmidt after D-Backs clinch wild card spot
Diamondbacks celebrate playoff berth
Fernando Rodney on his 300th career save
Chris Iannetta on his 8-RBI night in D-Backs’ win
Archie Bradley answers questions from reporters – and J.D. Martinez
Torey Lovullo after D-Backs avoid sweep in San Diego
A.J. Pollock on his two-homer game vs. Padres
Taijuan Walker on shaky outing vs. Giants
Zack Greinke after 2-0 win over Giants
Torey Lovullo on Greinke’s dominant start vs. Giants
Robbie Ray after 10-strikeout game vs. Giants
Archie Bradley on baseball and beards
Torey Lovullo on Pollock’s two-run double, Ray’s outing
Zack Godley on his outing against the Rockies
Torey Lovullo on big win over Rockies
Paul Goldschmidt downplays his 1,000th career hit
Lovullo discusses his team’s win over the Rockies
D-Backs’ A.J. Pollock on his three-hit night
Coyotes take batting practice at Chase Field
Torey Lovullo on the end of the D-Backs’ win streak
Paul Goldschmidt says his elbow is structurally sound
LOS ANGELES – The Diamondbacks have a big problem. Their relationship with the Dodgers has changed considerably.
They are no longer the broom. They are in danger of being whisked away inside the dustpan.
Their strength has become a weakness. And after an 8-5 loss in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, there aren’t many solutions in sight.
Not when their starting pitching has fallen apart.
Not when Robbie Ray can’t beat the Dodgers, a team he owned during the regular season.
“We never really got grounded, got into a flow or a rhythm throughout the entire game,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “Pitching sets the tone, and I thought Robbie was doing an adequate job early.”
Sorry, but adequate doesn’t work on this stage.
Maybe some of the blame should fall on Zack Greinke, the team’s pricey ace. Greinke’s quick exit in the wild-card game triggered a series of unfortunate events. It prompted the team to use Ray in a relief appearance, and not as the Game 1 starter.
As a result, the Dodgers were able to feast on an overmatched Taijuan Walker in Game 1. And they finally beat a nemesis who was clearly off his game on Saturday.
Ray muscled his way through numerous jams but was all over the place. He walked batters. He yielded a run on a wild pitch. He hit a batter in the fourth inning and was removed from the game shortly thereafter.
This has been a terrible turn of events. For most of the season, the Diamondbacks were an anomaly in Major League Baseball. At a time when relief pitching and home runs are deciding most outcomes, turning every playoff game into a marathon viewing experience, Arizona has been reliant on a very deep, very talented starting rotation.
But the wheels are falling off. Quality starts have become scarce, and so have outings that last longer than five innings.
After the blunder of starting Walker in Game 1 of the NLDS, which might have been more of an organizational decision, you can make a case that Lovullo was out-managed on Saturday. He brought in Jimmie Sherfy for the second consecutive game, dropping him into a pressure-packed situation, even though the rookie dealt with triceps tightness at the end of the season.
It’s a great story. Sherfy played with Lovullo’s son in high school, and Lovullo was deeply touched when he handed Sherfy the ball on Friday night. But Sherfy was the wrong guy at the wrong time on Saturday, allowing three runs and three hits on 10 pitches.
But here’s the ugly truth: Even Archie Bradley is struggling to get outs. Who else can Lovullo trust at the moment?
This was bigger than the manager. The Diamondbacks made a host of mental errors and a key physical error. They threw the ball to the wrong base. They let a runner steal third without a throw. They’ve trailed 7-1 and 7-2 in these two games. And over the past 18 innings, they have allowed the Dodgers to regain their swagger.
It was so bad that Yasiel Puig flipped his bat on a bloop single that couldn’t score a runner from second base. He flipped his bat again after an RBI single in the fifth inning. And when he was effectively picked off moments later, the crowd actually gave him a standing ovation for the emotion he provided.
Truth is, the Dodgers needed Puig’s energy in the early going.
In typical LA fashion, the crowd arrived late, and there was a completely different vibe at Chavez Ravine. Paul Goldschmidt provided a loud wakeup call, hitting a ball so hard that the left fielder never even moved.
It was the second time a Goldschmidt home run had staked his team to a first-inning lead in the playoffs. And it was déjà vu for Dodgers starter Rich Hill.
Ten years and one day earlier, Hill made his first postseason start ever in a game against the Diamondbacks. He gave up two first-inning runs, including a leadoff home run to Chris Young. That day, the Cubs were eliminated by the Diamondbacks.
Goldschmidt’s blast provided the fast start. It also added to the fireworks show on display in the MLB playoffs, where we’ve witnessed 11 first-inning home runs in 10 postseason games. The hitters are in such control and so cocky that Ketel Marte was talking trash about Clayton Kershaw.
“They say the ball doesn’t carry well in (Dodger Stadium),” he told USA TODAY. “I hope we face him in Arizona so we don’t hit four off of him, but eight.”
The Diamondbacks won’t get that chance. They will only face Kershaw again if these teams return to Dodger Stadium for a Game 5. The game quickly got worse after Goldschmidt’s blast, with the Diamondbacks stuck playing uphill baseball once again. And Marte was soon eating crow late in the contest, after he booted a grounder with the bases loaded.
It was that ugly. And the Diamondbacks are running out of time and season to make it better.
RELATED: Robbie Ray continues trend of early exits by Diamondbacks starters
MORE: The coaching duo behind J.D. Martinez’s dangerous swing
RELATED: D-Backs GM Hazen credits predecessors for laying playoff foundation
Reach Bickley at [email protected] or 602-444-8253. Follow him on twitter.com/dan.bickley. Listen to “Bickley and Marotta” weekdays from 12-2 p.m. on 98.7 Arizona’s Sports Station.
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