Collmenter Only Last Four Innings In First Start, D-backs Lose Again

WP: Zack Wheeler (1-2) LP: Josh Collmenter (0-1) S: Carlos Torres (1)

The Arizona Diamondbacks are greatly lacking quality starting pitching, and they just can't seem to catch a break with anyone they send to the mound.

D-backs pitcher Josh Collmenter got his turn to take part in the rotation after swapping positions with Randall Delgado, hoping to turn things around for Arizona Monday night against a 5-7 New York Mets team. Unfortunately for the D-backs, Collmenter was forced to throw 73 pitches in just four innings by the Mets hitters, while allowing three earned runs on five hits and a walk. The D-backs scored first in the ballgame against Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler in the bottom of the first as catcher Miguel Montero scored Paul Goldschmidt on a RBI double.

The Mets came right back in the top of the second to score off a Ruben Tejada RBI groundout. They struck for two runs in the second inning, one coming from a David Wright RBI groundout and the other a RBI single from Lucas Duda. The Diamondbacks kept it close, scoring a run in the bottom half of the inning off a Miguel Montero sacrifice fly that unfortunately turned into  double play as Aaron Hill was thrown out trying to advance to third base. Mets starter Zack Wheeler had a good outing, goinb 6 1/3 innings allowing two earned runs off six hits and three walks.

After Collmenter departed in the fourth inning, the newcomer Mike Bolsinger came into the game to eat up innings for a extremely tired bullpen. Bolsinger was brought up from AAA Reno on Monday to take Trevor Cahill's rotation spot. Cahill is now in the bullpen, and reliever Will Harris was sent down to make room. Bolsinger pitched three innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits in what was a bullpen session in preparation for his start on Saturday. The runs scored on Bolsinger came from back to back RBI singles from Curtis Granderson and Lucas Duda.

Following Bolsinger, lefty reliever Ryan Rowland-Smith came in and pitched the eighth and ninth innings, allowing two runs (only one earned, Smith had a trowing error), both coming in the eighth inning. Daniel Murphy had a RBI sacrifice fly that was followed by a David Wright RBI single. The D-backs answered back in the bottom half after Miguel Montero drove in his third run of the night hitting a RBI single to plate Paul Goldschmidt. Montero's three for three night wasn't enough to overcome the Mets, as the D-backs lost 7-3. Dropping Arizona to 4-12 on the season, and 1-9 at home.

The Diamondbacks and Mets play again Tuesday night in Phoenix in game two of the three game series. Bronson Arroyo looks to go deep into game for the D-backs, facing off against Jenrry Mejia of the Mets.