PHOENIX — Taking the bat out of Paul Goldschmidt’s is becoming contagious, no more so than when the Diamondbacks play Milwaukee. The Brewers have walked the Arizona first baseman nine times in seven games this season, six times intentionally.
The way the Diamondbacks handled the following plate appearance, that pattern is likely to be repeated.
Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo (right) celebrates after scoring in the eighth inning with teammate Nick Ahmed against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Despite the extra runner on base, the Diamondbacks have scored only five runs in innings when Goldschmidt was pitched around.
Center fielder A.J. Pollock, the Diamondbacks’ second-best hitter, batted fourth behind Goldschmidt for just that reason Sunday, manager Chip Hale said, although Pollock flied out with two out and two on after Goldschmidt was intentionally walked in the fifth inning.
“The Brewers have shown they are willing to intentionally walk Paul at any time in the game, so I want someone who is swinging the bat well and is definitely a threat,” Hale said Sunday after the Diamondbacks’ 3-0 win.
Goldschmidt was 6-for-10 with two homers, three doubles and four RBIs in the first two games of a three-game series May 27-29 in Milwaukee, and he had hits in his first three at-bats in the May 29 game before he was walked in his final four plate appearances, three of them intentional passes, in the Brewers’ 7-6, 17-inning victory.
“It was like Paul was playing video-game baseball,” Hale said of that series. “It was ridiculous, so I don’t blame (Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell). And that’s part of the reason why we have to have people behind Goldy that are definite threats and guys who can do damage. You see how it affects (Giants catcher Buster) Posey with (Hunter) Pence behind him when he is healthy. It changes the game for them.”
Counsell twice ordered Goldschmidt walked intentionally in the third inning this weekend, once with a runner on second and two outs and once with runners on second and third and two outs. The Diamondbacks did not score in either inning.
“I think Goldschmidt and (Washington right fielder Bryce) Harper, for me, really stand out this year as guys you have to be careful of,” Counsell said. “I don’t like walking guys intentionally in the third inning. I really don’t like doing that. The player earns that, the way I see it.”
