PHOENIX — New Arizona right-hander Shelby Miller’s frustrating start mirrors that of the Diamondbacks, who lost five of seven games on their season-opening homestand.
The Chicago Cubs finished a series with 7-3 victory over the Diamondbacks on Sunday, when right-hander Jake Arrieta and Jorge Soler hit home runs. Arrieta’s homer was measured at 442 feet by ESPN Stats and Info, and Soler’s bases-empty homer broke a tie at 3 in the sixth inning.
Miller has given up five homers and 10 runs in 11-plus innings in his two starts, and all but one of the runs he has allowed have come on homers.
“It definitely a hitter’s park,” Miller said. “There is no doubt about that, and everybody knows that but that is just an excuse. You got to make pitches regardless. The biggest thing is if I can find a way to keep the ball in the ball park.
“All of these runs I have been giving up have been on homers. Not one of them has been a double to the gap or anything like that. A couple of mistakes up and guys have been putting good swings on them.”
The D-backs have given up 13 homers in 63 innings, and their starting rotation had a 7.96 ERA in the seven-game homestand, giving up 33 earned runs and 49 hits in 37 1/3 innings.
“Missing with too many pitches up, and they are putting good swings on it and hitting home runs,” Miller said. “That is definitely killing me right now. It has been rough for me personally, but the guys in the clubhouse, this team, we are all in good shape. We know we haven’t been playing the best baseball.”
Manager Chip Hale said he believes things can turn quickly.
“Just like with (Zack) Grienke, these guys are starting to figure it out,” Hale said. “They are going to start feeling comfortable with their teammates. I think things are going to start to fall in place.”