MARK MELANCON NEWS

Mahle brilliant through 9, Reds beat D-backs 5-3 in 12

Albert Almora Jr. tripled home the go-ahead run in the 12th after Tyler Mahle pitched nine brilliant innings, and the Cincinnati Reds outlasted the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3

JUNE 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pitches eighth inning Thursday Melancon asked manager Torey Lovullo to let him pitch in Thursday's game because he hadn't pitched since last Saturday, the Arizona Republic reports. Melancon (2-6) picked up the w...

Impact Ian Kennedy closed out the Reds for the save, but the Diamondbacks were on the road and trailing 3-1 heading into the eighth inning. Because a bottom of the ninth inning was not guaranteed, Lovullo had Melancon pitch the eighth. Bottom line, there is no change in Arizona's closer situation, and Melancon remains the primary option for saves.

JUNE 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rojas, Diamondbacks rally for 4 runs in 9th, beat Reds 5-4

Josh Rojas hit a go-ahead single during a four-run rally in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4, earning a split in the four-game series

JUNE 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Can't protect one-run lead Melancon (1-6) took the loss Saturday versus the Pirates. He allowed two runs on two hits without recording an out.

Impact Melancon was taken deep by Jack Suwinski for a walkoff two-run home run in the ninth inning. This was the fifth time in 22 appearances Melancon has allowed multiple runs. He's now 11-for-13 in save chances while sporting an ugly 6.87 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB through 18.1 innings. Ian Kennedy or Joe Mantiply could be options for saves if Melancon's struggles continue deeper into the season.

JUNE 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Suwinski hits 2-run HR in bottom of 9th, Pirates beat Dbacks

Rookie Jack Suwinski hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied past the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1

JUNE 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thomas hits 2 of Diamondbacks' 5 HRs in win over Pirates

Rookie Alek Thomas hit two of Arizona’s five home runs and the Diamondbacks opened a long road trip by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-6

JUNE 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Snags first win Melancon (1-5) allowed an unearned run on two hits and struck out one in one inning, earning the extra-inning win over Atlanta on Tuesday.

Impact Melancon gave up an RBI single to Austin Riley in the top of the 10th inning, but Arizona responded with a pair of runs in their half of the frame to walk it off. This was Melancon's first win of the year, which has been a bit rocky for the 37-year-old reliever. He has a 6.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB across 17.1 innings. Despite the poor ratios, he's 10-for-11 in save chances in 2022.

JUNE 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Logs 10th save Melancon saved Tuesday's 8-6 victory over the Royals, allowing one hit with one strikeout in the ninth inning.

Impact Melancon worked around a leadoff single to convert his fifth straight save chance, albeit with two losses mixed in. The 37-year-old has now recorded a strikeout in three straight appearances after failing to do so in his previous five games, striking out four batters over a combined three innings compared to an identical four in his first 12.1.

MAY 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Smith's tiebreaking homer lifts Arizona past Royals 8-6

Pavin Smith and pinch-hitter Jordan Luplow homered in a five-run sixth inning to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Kansas City Royals 8-6

MAY 25, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Holds on for ninth save Melancon earned a save in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Cubs, surrendering two runs (one earned) on two hits while pitching the 10th inning. He struck out two batters.

Impact Melancon was brought in to protect a 7-4 lead in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving up an RBI single to Andrelton Simmons and an RBI double to Jonathan Villar, narrowing the lead to 7-6. He was able to strikeout Seiya Suzuki to end the contest, earning his ninth save of the year in 10 opportunities. Since the beginning of May, the 37-year-old has had a rocky road, surrendering 11 earned runs over 6.1 innings. Although he's struggled recently, his role as the closer for the Diamondbacks is still secure.

MAY 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Varsho's double scores 3 in 10th in Dbacks' 7-6 win vs Cubs

Daulton Varsho drilled a two-out, three-RBI double in the 10th inning then scored on a thrhowing error by Andrelton Simmons to give the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 7-6 comeback win o...

MAY 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gets back on track Melancon didn't allow a baserunner and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to tally the save Thursday against the Cubs.

Impact Manager Torey Lovullo declared that Melancon would remain the team's closer despite allowing 10 earned runs across his last four innings entering Thursday's appearance. As promised, Melancon was called upon in the ninth inning to protect a two-run lead, and he did so to collect his eighth save of the season. Despite the encouraging outing, Melancon still has only five strikeouts across 13.1 innings on the campaign.

MAY 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Zac Gallen, Daulton Varsho lead Diamondbacks past Cubs 3-1

Zac Gallen pitched five effective innings, Daulton Varsho homered and the Arizona Diamondbacks stopped a six-game slide with a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs

MAY 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Remains closer Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Melancon remains the team's closer, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Impact Recent performances prompted Lovullo to review Melancon's work, which included three losses and a blown save over a one-week stretch. "Melancon's our closer," Lovullo said. "If you look at the full body of work, he's saved seven games for us. He's had some hiccups. Every closer has them." It should be noted that Melancon has converted seven of eight save chances, and the worst of his results have come when pitching in non-save situations.

MAY 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Role being evaluated Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said discussions are ongoing about Melancon remaining the team's closer, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.

Impact Melancon was unavailable to pitch Sunday after appearing in three of the last four games, so Ian Kennedy entered the ninth inning with the score tied. Lovullo has used Melancon in tie games before, including a pair of epic losses last week, but was not prepared to answer the question about a role change. "We're going to still have some more discussions about his availability," Lovullo said. "You know, he's had a heavy workload, he was on (the injured COVID list) for a short period of time. I was probably asking a little too much too soon. So I'll take a little bit of the blame for what he did three out of four, but I don't know that answer right now." Should there be a change, Kennedy is the most likely to serve as closer.

MAY 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Melancon's status as Diamondbacks' main closer being assessed Notes from Sunday, May 15 Diamondbacks-Cubs game, including status of closer Mark Melancon.

MAY 16, 2022 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Takes fifth loss Melancon (0-5) took the loss during Saturday's 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Cubs, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks while failing to record an out.

Impact Melancon was brought into a tie game in the ninth inning and permitted the first four Cubs to reach base before being pulled. That's now two poor outings in his last three appearances for the 37-year-old, whose ERA jumped to 8.49, and his days as the closer may be numbered.

MAY 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gomes hits HR, go-ahead single to lift Cubs over D-backs 4-2

Yan Gomes hit a solo homer and added a go-ahead single in the ninth inning to lift the Chicago Cubs over the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2

MAY 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rebounds for seventh save Melancon saved Friday's 4-3 victory over the Cubs, retiring the side in order in the ninth inning.

Impact Making his first appearance since Wednesday's meltdown, Melancon was trusted to protect a one-run lead and delivered. The successful outing got his ERA down to 6.17, though if Tuesday's outing were removed the mark would be a much more respectable 3.27.

MAY 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marte has 3 hits to lift Diamondbacks over Cubs 4-3

Ketel Marte had three hits and drove in a run, Zach Davies pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3

MAY 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Having cutter issues Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Melancon is having issues commanding his cutter, but he'll remain the team's closer following Wednesday's 11-3 loss to Miami, Steve Gilbert of ML...

Impact The Diamondbacks had just tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, thanks to a Jordan Luplow two-run, pinch hit home run, but Melancon was ineffective in the ninth. It was the second time in three outings that Arizona's closer ceded four runs to an opponent. "I just think he's not commanding his cutter as good as we've seen him or as good as he expects," Lovullo said. "And it's putting him in a situation where he's maybe got to back off a bit and put it a little bit more in the middle of the plate. He's close, he's very close, but it all comes down to command with him." Melancon's ERA soared to 6.75 along with a 1.97 WHIP over 10.2 innings. Only four of his 32 outs are due to a strikeout, and Melancon sports an 8.7 K%.

MAY 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marlins use 8-run ninth to blow past Diamondbacks 11-3

Jacob Stallings hit a key single, and the Miami Marlins used an eight-run ninth inning to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-3

MAY 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bounces back for sixth save Melancon earned the save against the Marlins on Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact Melancon suffered his first blown save of the season Saturday when he gave up three earned runs against Colorado. The veteran closer rebounded against the Marlins, however, needing just six pitches to retire three hitters. He yielded a single to the first batter he faced, but that was eventually wiped out with a game-ending double play. Melancon has gone 6-for-7 in save opportunities this season while posting a 3.60 ERA across 11 appearances.

MAY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Diamondbacks stay hot, beat slumping Marlins 4-3

Ketel Marte hit a go-ahead solo homer, Daulton Varsho and Christian Walker each added two hits and the Arizona Diamondbacks kept rolling with a 4-3 win over the slumping Miami Marl...

MAY 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gallen sharp in 7 innings, Diamondbacks beat Rockies 4-0

Zac Gallen struck out seven in seven crisp innings, Jose Herrera hit a two-run double for his first big league RBIs and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 4-0

MAY 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS