Martinez Hurts Hand, Diamondbacks Fall To Reds 4-3 In 11
By JOE KAY, AP Sports Writer
CINCINNATI (AP) — J.D. Martinez couldn't stop his swing and get out of the way of an inside pitch. The ball plunked him on the side of his left hand.
Just like that, Arizona's newest addition was headed for the trainer's room, a stunning blow to a team that felt so good about his arrival a few hours earlier.
Martinez bruised his left hand, forcing him out of his Arizona debut, and the Cincinnati Reds ended their five-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory on Wednesday night capped by Adam Duvall's bases-loaded single in the 11th inning.
At least there's no fracture that would sideline Martinez for a long time.
"We're very thankful for that," manager Torey Lovullo said.
Arizona was buoyed by getting Martinez from the Tigers for three prospects, adding a run producer to the middle of the lineup. Lovullo said before the game on Wednesday that "it was an exciting moment" to write his name on the lineup card.
Martinez struck out in his first at-bat against Tim Adleman, chasing a pitch in the dirt. He couldn't hold back his swing at a two-strike pitch that jammed him in the fourth inning, the ball hitting him squarely on the hand.
"I took a deep breath," Lovullo said.
Martinez left the game in significant pain after his strikeout. X-rays were negative. He's expected to miss the final game of the series on Thursday.
Arizona has dropped nine of 11.
The Reds had lost all five games since the All-Star break, including Arizona's 11-2 victory on Tuesday night that featured nine extra-base hits by the Diamondbacks. The Reds broke their slump by rallying off T.J. McFarland (4-2) to snap a 3-3 tie.
Billy Hamilton singled — his third hit of the game — with one out. Zack Cozart hit a ground-rule double, and Joey Votto was walked intentionally ahead of Duvall's single to right. Michael Lorenzen (5-2) pitched two innings for the win.
"With Billy's speed, I knew I didn't have to hit it that deep," Duvall said.
Adleman, who had lost his last three starts, gave up a run-scoring double and a solo homer to David Peralta in six innings before leaving with the score 3-3.
Cozart also had an RBI single and a solo homer off Zack Greinke, who gave up three runs in five innings. Greinke had won his last three starts, including a victory over Cincinnati in his previous start on July 7.
"They felt comfortable up there, it seemed like," Grienke said. "I pitched them sort of similar. I pitched a little better last time."
NEW LOOK
Lovullo gave his lineup a new look with Martinez batting fifth. Paul Goldschmidt dropped from third to cleanup, and leadoff hitter A.J. Pollock swapped spots with Peralta, the No. 2 hitter. The top four hitters accounted for all three runs.
STATS
The Diamondbacks are 7-2 in extra-inning games. The Reds are 3-5. ... Goldschmidt has hit safely in a career-high 17 straight road games. ... Hamilton stole his 40th base, most in the majors. He also was caught stealing for the first time since May 30.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: OF Rey Fuentes went on the 10-day DL with a sore left thumb. He hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning on Tuesday night and hurt the thumb in his next at-bat.
Reds: C Devin Mesoraco was activated off the 10-day DL after recovering from a strained left shoulder that had sidelined him since July 5. He had a pinch-hit single in the sixth.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: Taijuan Walker (6-4) lost his only career start against the Reds, giving up five runs in five innings on July 8. He's 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA in eight road starts this season.
Reds: Luis Castillo (1-2) makes his sixth major league start. He pitched at Arizona on July 8 and gave up only three hits in 6 2/3 innings for his first big league victory.
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