Arizona Diamondbacks fans had every reason to feel optimistic Monday night at Chase Field. With an 8-0 lead, smiles and laughter filled the dugout. But baseball, as we know, can be a game of unexpected twists.
Michael Soroka was dealing on the mound, showcasing a masterful five scoreless innings, even delivering an immaculate inning. It seemed like smooth sailing until the bullpen took over, and the Detroit Tigers saw their chance to rally.
In the seventh inning, Joe Ross faced trouble. Rookie Kevin McGonigle earned a walk, and Dillon Dingler broke the shutout with an RBI double.
The momentum shifted when Spencer Torkelson's RBI double off Ryan Thompson brought the Tigers closer, narrowing the gap to 8-6. Thompson struggled, with his last eight pitches missing the zone.
The mood on the Diamondbacks' bench quickly shifted from jovial to tense. The bullpen's struggles, a nagging issue for the franchise, reared their head once again. Last season, the Diamondbacks allowed five or more runs after the sixth inning eleven times, and this season has started on a similar note.
The bullpen's composition has raised eyebrows, with eight right-handed relievers and no lefties. This imbalance was evident when Torey Lovullo opted to keep Ross against left-handed hitters Colt Keith and Riley Green. Keith, who struggled against southpaws last season, capitalized with a two-run double, and Green added an RBI single.
Ross's outing unraveled quickly, giving up six runs on five hits and two balks in just two-thirds of an inning, clearly affecting his confidence.
Despite the bullpen's shaky performance, the Diamondbacks managed to hold on for a 9-6 victory over the Tigers, marking their first win of the season. Yet, the bullpen remains a pressing concern as the team looks to stabilize moving forward.