D-backs Blow Big Lead in Crushing Loss to Rangers in Extras

The Diamondbacks will be kicking themselves for letting this game get away. They carried a 6-1 lead entering the bottom of the sixth, but couldn't seal the deal on the pitching side. A big inning against Ryne Nelson made the game close, where the bullpen could save a one-run lead in a 7-6 loss ot the Texas Rangers in 10 innings at Globe Life Field.

Here are the main takeaways from tonight's devastating loss.

Ryne Nelson's Fastball Was Dominant, Until it Wasn't

The game plan for Ryne Nelson was aggressive fastball usage. That makes sense, as the Rangers have a weakness against high-velocity fastballs with elite carry. Against four-seamers with 96+ MPH velocity and 18+" induced vertical break, Texas had a 39.1% whiff rate. That ranked as the second worst in the league.

Nelson came into this start with the fourth-most four-seam fastballs (304) with such characteristics. So it was a case where a clear strength matched up against a clear weakness.

The early results were encouraging. Nelson breezed through five innings, with all 15 outs recorded on his four-seamer with a velocity of no less than 95.6 MPH.

However, he began to tire in the sixth, and it started the domino effect. As his velocity and command slipped the third time through the order, the Rangers pounced. Nelson surrendered four hits to five hitters, including a three-run home run to Wyatt Langford.

"I thought Nelly was doing a nice job of controlling a pretty offensive lineup, just made a mistake at the wrong time and it ended up being a big three-run home run that got them right back in the game," said Lovullo.

The question that has to be asked in the game is why manager Lovullo left his tiring starter in to face Langford. Nelson had struck out the Rangers center fielder the first two times, but his fastball velocity dropped into the 94-95 MPH range in the frame and sacrificed his command to compensate. With a reliever warming up, Lovullo could have stalled for time and gotten Burgos in the game before the Rangers landed their haymaker.

That ended a dominant start on a sour note. Nelson finished the game with five runs on seven hits, no walks, and six strikeouts over 5.1 innings. He threw a career-high 81 four-seamers out of 97 pitches, generating 13 whiffs on 49 swings. But he was unable to command anything else in the game, which came back to haunt him in the sixth.

D-backs Clobber MLB's ERA Leader

Nathan Eovaldi came into this start hot. He allowed just three runs (two earned) in his past six starts, and a 1.38 ERA in 19 starts this season.

However, that didn't matter as the D-backs ambushed Eovaldi. After retiring the first five hitters, Arizona had six of the next seven hitters successfully reach base. Three of them left the yard, as Tyler Locklear, Corbin Carroll, and Geraldo Perdomo went yard on the Texas ace. Eovaldi had allowed just five home runs on the season. After this start, his ERA jumped up to 1.73.

Blaze Alexander, who's trying to set a high bar in a potential competition with top prospect Jordan Lawlar at third base, added the fourth home run of the night in the sixth. That gave Arizona a 6-1 lead and a 95.5% win probability at the time.

That would be the last run the D-backs scored on the night. They finished the night 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

The issues became problematic in the top of the 10th, when they failed to advance Perdomo beyond second. After going hitless in three at-bats, Arizona is 9-for-54 in extra innings on the season.

Bullpen Can't Close Out the Rangers

The bullpen inherited a one-run lead and needed to get the final 11 outs. Juan Burgos, Andrew Saalfrank, and Andrew Hoffman got the first 8 without issue. The D-backs held a 6-5 lead going into the 9th.

However, it only took three pitches for the lead to evaporate. Hoffman, in his second inning of work, grooved a changeup down the middle to Rowdy Tellez. The veteran slugger capitalized with a long home run to the right field bleachers and erased the D-backs' only chance of winning.

Andrew Saalfrank got the final out of the 9th and retired the first batter he faced following an intentional walk to Corey Seager. But he couldn't get the swing-and-miss he needed with his curveball and left one up for Jake Burger to smash into the left field corner to complete the comeback.

Next Game

The D-backs return to Globe Life Field to take on the Rangers for Game 2. Anthony DeSclafani starts for Arizona while Jack Leiter goes for Texas. First pitch will be at 5:05 PM MST.