DIAMONDBACKS

Diamondbacks' mistakes pounced on as Cubs roll to victory

Nick Piecoro
azcentral sports
Chicago Cubs third baseman Mike Olt hits a three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field on April 22, 2014.

CHICAGO – It was hard to tell the rebuilding team from the one with the franchise-record payroll.

The Diamondbacks, who have made go-for-broke trades and upped their spending in hopes of winning this year, were slapped around for the second consecutive game by the retooling Chicago Cubs, losing 9-2 on a cold night at Wrigley Field.

It was their fourth loss in a row and 10th in the past 11 games. It dropped their record to 5-18, the worst start to a season in franchise history. They've been outscored 143-81.

Ten years ago, when the Diamondbacks were staggering toward a 111-loss season, then-manager Bob Brenly memorably said the team was "caught in a vortex of horse (manure)." The quote seems apropos this season.

For the Diamondbacks, who are spending around $110 million this year, each night seems to represent a new low. They haven't just been losing. They've been getting destroyed. Of their 18 losses, only one has come by one run.

"Even teams that I've lost on, we've been competitive," veteran Eric Chavez said. "We haven't even been competitive this year. It's been tough. I've never seen anything like it."

The tiny visiting clubhouse at Wrigley Field was deathly quiet when reporters were allowed inside after the game. Players kept their heads down, eating their postgame meals, and when they did speak, they spoke in hushed tones.

Chavez said there was a different feel in the room, something he hadn't sensed before. He said it's getting harder to remain positive, to come to the park believing this would be the day things turn around.

"We've had so many meetings," he said. "Talk is really cheap at this point. We need some performances on the field. We've had probably more team meetings and people saying stuff more than I've ever been a part of, which is all great, but we need some guys to step up and have some big days and try to get it rolling in the right direction."

Manager Kirk Gibson called the loss a carbon copy of others that have come before it. It goes like this: Find a moment in which an error would be crippling, commit the error and unravel. Repeat the next night.

The moment: bottom of the fifth. The mistake: Martin Prado's error on a ground ball. The follow-up: Three batters later, Brandon McCarthy fell behind 3-1 to Mike Olt, who demolished a down-the-middle fastball for a three-run homer.

"It's kind of the way it's been going that that ends up being not a solo home run, not caught at the wall, it's a three-run home run that puts the game out of reach," McCarthy said. "It's just kind of in line with the way it's been going."

It was another non-quality start from the Diamondbacks' rotation, which has produced 18 of those in 21 games. But it's becoming harder and harder to pin the blame solely on the rotation.

The Diamondbacks managed just six hits. Their offense is averaging just 3.5 runs per game, the second-lowest total in the league.

"We didn't mount any pressure again offensively," Gibson said. "I don't know what to tell you about that."

No one knew what to say.

"It's the damndest thing," McCarthy said. "It's all there. Guys that work hard. Nobody's giving up. And then you just go out and you come in at the end of the game and we sit here depressed because we've gotten beat again. It's a really weird feeling and usually the game doesn't go against you this long. Something happens. But it just keeps happening."

Cubs 9, Diamondbacks 2

Recap: RHP Jason Hammel threw seven strong innings and Mike Olt bashed a game-changing three-run home run in the fifth inning as the Chicago Cubs routed the Diamondbacks on Tuesday at Wrigley Field.

The Diamondbacks had another meager night at the plate, collecting just six hits and managing just two at-bats with a runner in scoring position.

Prado's mistake: Diamondbacks RHP Brandon McCarthy couldn't overcome a mistake by 2B Martin Prado in the Cubs' four-run fifth inning.

With a runner on first and one out, Prado couldn't make a backhanded stop on a ball by Anthony Rizzo, the error putting runners on first and third with one out.

After Nate Schierholtz's sac fly, Starlin Castro singled to left and Olt clubbed a three-run home run on a 3-1 fastball from McCarthy.

"We were moving along all right and then, really, one bad pitch," McCarthy said. "And even looking at it, it's still a 3-1 sinker away that I like my odds usually with that pitch and he did a good job of staying back on it and driving it."

Manager Kirk Gibson said he stuck with McCarthy in the fifth in part because the team can't afford to keep overworking its bullpen.

"He pitched fine, but his starts, that's really what they've been, for one reason or another," Gibson said. "But I know he's gone out there and given the best effort he can, the team's given the best effort they can, but it has not worked out."

Big innings: The Cubs scored four runs in the fifth and four more in the eighth. Avoiding big innings has been a major issue for the Diamondbacks pitching staff so far this season.

On this road trip alone, the Dodgers and the Cubs have combined for six innings in which they scored three runs or more.

"Those are things we need to eliminate," Gibson said. "People have been striking us quick. We control that. We all need to play better. I need to manage better. We need to coach better. That's the way it's going to happen."

View from the press box: What a night for Tuffy Gosewisch to pick to hit his first career home run. Not only was it his first homer, it was his first hit of the season, leaving only OF Cody Ross looking for his first hit. Since coming off the disabled list on Friday, Ross has gone 0 for 16. His frustration was evident after a seventh-inning strikeout, when he slammed his bat to the ground in anger. Considering the mood around the team, it must have been hard for Gosewisch to feel good about the blast.

Up next

D-Backs at Cubs

When: 11:20 a.m., Wednesday.

TV/radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM 620, KPKX-FM 98.7, KSUN-AM 1400

Pitchers: LHP Wade Miley (2-2, 4.35) vs. Cubs RHP Jeff Samardzija (0-2, 1.29).

Notable: The Diamondbacks' starting rotation has delivered three quality starts through 22 games. Miley has two of them. He has faced the Cubs three times in his career, posting a 3.57 ERA. … Samardzija, whom the Diamondbacks had tried to acquire via trade in the off-season, has thrown well through four starts, going exactly seven innings in each. In three starts against the Diamondbacks, Samardzija has allowed 11 earned runs in 17 innings (5.83 ERA).

Projected starters

Thursday: At Chicago, 11:20 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Mike Bolsinger (0-1, 10.29) vs. Cubs RHP Edwin Jackson (1-1, 5.40).

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Josh Collmenter (0-2, 4.50) vs. Phillies RHP Roberto Hernandez (1-0, 5.75).

Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Bronson Arroyo (1-2, 9.50) vs. Phillies LHP Cliff Lee (3-2, 3.09).