Ryne Nelson, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ starter, did not last three innings in his season debut against the New York Yankees on Monday at Chase Field.
Nelson had a rough night after a promising spring, plagued by a lack of command with his fastball and offspeed pitches. He pitched 76 pitches and got eight outs.
“They weren’t really biting on the stuff I was trying to get them to chase,” he added. “It’s difficult when you’re constantly behind schedule, and traffic is one of the main reasons. Didn’t place myself in excellent positions.”
Nelson avoided self-inflicted disaster by leaving the bases loaded in the first inning following two walks and 31 pitches, but the Yankees chased him with two outs in the third, leading 5-0.
Nelson left after walking four batters, as apparently every at-bat lingered. Nelson averaged 4.5 pitches per at-bat, despite having five balls in play on the first pitch (4-for-4, sacrifice fly).
“Felt a little out of rhythm, maybe a little amped up in the first and then just couldn’t really find a groove,” said Nelson.
Manager Torey Lovullo reviewed his rotation once and considered it inconsistent.
The D-backs won three games, starting with mainstays Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Brandon Pfaadt (16.2 IP, 3 ER), but lost Tommy Henry and Nelson (6.2 IP, 9 ER).
The D-backs’ whole rotation will not be available until later this month, when Jordan Montgomery is activated and Eduardo Rodriguez returns from the 15-day disabled list (shoulder). Montgomery aimed for April 19. Nelson and Henry pushed for positions and showed flashes of hope this spring, but there was a drop-off at the start of the season.
“We’re going to coach the guys up, that’s what we do,” he said. “I was talking about it right now before coming in here…” That is the coach’s obligation. We won’t complain about it. We’re just going to coach them and do our best since they’re the only five men here, and we’re going to make it work.”
Nelson’s performance concluded with a defensive disaster.
Austin Wells, the Yankees’ catcher, hit a sacrifice fly to left, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s throw went wide through the backstop. Nelson collected the ball and saw Anthony Volpe running for third, but his throw went into left field, allowing the run to be scored.
Lovullo stated Monday’s performance was not typical of the Diamondbacks following their performance the previous weekend.
“As that unfolded, I wrote down in my notes we’re gonna practice that play next year,” he remarked. “We situate the pitchers in the proper positions, but how often do they pick up a ball from the backstop and toss it to third or second base? We’re going to practice that play.
Arizona’s bullpen was the game’s hero, pitching 6.1 scoreless innings with three hits and one walk.
Kyle Nelson recorded six outs, Miguel Castro five, Joe Mantiply five, and Luis Frias three, all with weak contact. Their efforts restored the game’s rhythm and provided numerous possibilities for the offense to battle back.
“Started with with Kyle Nelson, he was up three times and we hadn’t done that to him all spring training,” Lovullo told the media. “He said whatever I needed, he’d go out there and do for the team, and he made a commitment to his teammates, keeping us in the game. Then it was one after another.”
Ryne Nelson’s short outing was far from the only reason Arizona lost to a New York squad that had started 5-0 on the road.
In contrast to their 32 runs in four games against the Colorado Rockies, the D-backs only managed four hits and did not accumulate many innings.
Yankees starter Luis Gil, making his first MLB start since 2022 after Tommy John surgery, worked through the D-backs’ order twice and allowed one run on one hit in 4.2 innings. He activated the radar cannon and struck out six.
Arizona had the opportunity to reset the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the seventh inning, trailing 5-1. Gabriel Moreno tripled to lead off, Jake McCarthy reached on an error, and Geraldo Perdomo was struck by a pitch in the forearm area; he was checked out by training personnel and remained in.
That set up the top of the order. Ketel Marte drilled a ball 105 mph off the bat to right field for a sacrifice fly. Corbin Carroll popped up to third, and Gurriel smoked a ball 107.8 mph right to left fielder Alex Verdugo.
“That inning hurt. Gurriel covered that baseball,” Lovullo said. “He hits that ball down the line, it’s a totally different night. That’s the beauty of the game.”
Carroll, Gurriel, Christian Walker, Joc Pederson and Eugenio Suarez — hitters 2-6 — finished 0-for-14, albeit Pederson walked twice.
Jorge Barrosa’s moment
One of Arizona’s four hits came off the bench, as outfielder Jorge Barrosa pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth for his MLB debut after getting called up pregame.
Barrosa crushed a ground-rule double to left-center field.
First AB = First hit for Jorge Barrosa!! pic.twitter.com/FemMkipkoQ
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 2, 2024
The series continues Tuesday and Wednesday with Gallen and Kelly taing the hill for Arizona, respectively. Nestor Cortes gets the ball for New York on Tuesday.
Monday had a packed crowd of 38,608, second-highest of the season after Opening Day.
