PHOENIX – It is nothing close to fair to evaluate the A.J. Hinch era after only five days.
But the Sedona Red-clad in attendance Tuesday night didn’t seem to mind making the Diamondbacks aware of their frustration, their full-throated boos ringing out across Chase Field throughout the game.
And after the Diamondbacks lost once again, this time 3-1 to the Cincinnati Reds and ex-Diamondbacks pitcher Micah Owings, it’s tough to blame them for their displeasure, considering the body of work the team has turned in since Bob Melvin was canned as manager last week.
In the past five games, the Diamondbacks at times have appeared lethargic, other times sloppy, and certainly haven’t looked inspired. Regardless of what happens in Wednesday night’s series finale, they are assured of losing each of the first two series since the managerial change.
They are 1-4 under Hinch.
“There were plenty of chances,” Hinch said. “We didn’t really make Micah work probably as hard as we should’ve.”
Brandon Phillips had two hits, including a home run, as the Reds beat Diamondbacks right-hander Dan Haren, who allowed three runs in seven innings.
On this night, the target of the boos was the offense. Though the hitters have looked better in recent days, they could do little on this night against Owings, whom the Diamondbacks shipped to Cincinnati in August in the Adam Dunn trade.
Owings allowed just one hit through the first five innings, but gave up consecutive singles to open the sixth, putting runners on the corners with nobody out.
But the Diamondbacks failed to push a run across. Miguel Montero worked a 3-1 count but popped out to shortstop. Justin Upton followed and took three consecutive pitches – two fastballs and slider – to strike out looking.
And after Mark Reynolds hit the first pitch he saw for a fly out to end the inning, the boos rained down.
The Diamondbacks got on the board in the eighth on a Felipe Lopez RBI double. But with Lopez on second with no outs, the Diamondbacks again could not come up with a big hit.