By Mark Carlisle

Independent Newsmedia

SCOTTSDALE — Taijuan Walker is glad to be back on the mound after a rough ending to a career year in 2017. Walker gave up a run but struck out two batters in his one-inning spring training debut Tuesday, in the San Francisco Giants' 14-12 walk-off win at Scottsdale Stadium. It was much better than Walker’s last one-inning start, where he gave up four runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first frame of Game 1 of the National League Division Series, setting the tone for the D-backs to be swept out of the playoffs. After his first outing of this preseason, Walker said he was glad to put last postseason behind him. “It felt like I haven’t pitched in over two years,” he said. “…So, it was just good getting back on the mound and getting back into things.” The only thing Manager Torey Lovullo didn’t like about his starter's outing was his pitch count — 35 pitches in an inning. The rest, he liked. “The stuff was coming out of his hand downhill, working corners,” Lovullo said. “The secondary stuff I thought was very effective too. When you’re talking about early outings, the spring, those are the things you’re looking for, and I thought Taijuan had a very, very good outing.” The five batters he faced fouled off a lot of pitches, but Walker took pride that he was throwing strikes, hoping many of those could be hit in play for quick outs during the season. “It’s spring training though. I figured their timing’s off a little bit… When we get closer to the season, they’re going to put some of those balls in play. You know, that’s what I want — just pound the zone, get quick outs.” Brandon Belt hit a single off Walker, stole second and was driven home on a double from Chris Shaw. Walker struck out Joe Panik and Pablo Sandoval Walker had the best year of his young career with Arizona in 2017, posting a 3.49 ERA. He said he feels good after spending the entire offseason in Arizona conditioning. His exercises including improving flexibility through yoga.

Archie Bradley

The Diamondbacks’ breakout reliever of 2017 had an outing Tuesday nearly as bad as Walker’s lone playoff appearance, allowing four earned runs in 1 1/3 innings on two hits and three walks. He also threw 35 pitches. Bradley didn’t sweat the rough exhibition outing, his second of the spring, which he and Lovullo chalked up to bad fastball command. Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley retreats to the mound as San Francisco Giants right fielder Austin Slater rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run Tuesday at Scottsdale Stadium. [Mark Carlisle/Independent Newsmedia][/caption]“It’s weird, I mean I’m not pleased with it, but I’m not trying to make the team upset,” Bradley said. “I’m just (trying to) have kind of a mature standpoint, of like, ‘OK, fastball command wasn’t there, but I threw the pitches I needed to throw. I feel good, and I have a really good understanding of why I didn’t have success today.’ Where before I’d kind of be searching, trying to figure it out. I know. And now it’s about just getting back to getting ready for the next one.” Bradley said he was looking to work on his changeup, but due to lack of fastball control, he couldn’t get ahead in the count, which was the best time to use it. Lovullo saw some good things in Bradley’s four-run outing, noting that it was the first time in a while that the reliever had been sent back out for a second inning. “Archie is always trying to get better, always trying to further his game and get a feel for different pitches and have different weapons,” he said. “So, for the most part it was a good day for him.” Bradley gave up an 0-2 home run to the first batter he faced, Austin Slater. He settled down and didn’t allow any more that inning. However, he struggled the next inning, giving up three runs while only recording one out. Bradley had a long wait before that second inning, as his teammates scored six runs in the top of the fifth. He didn’t think the intermission had much effect on him though. Lovullo said Bradley’s 0-2 home run was on a fastball he tried to elevate but instead left in the zone. Bradley has never conceded an 0-2 home run in his regular-season career.

Big finish

Despite the five combined runs allowed by Walker and Bradley, the D-backs were in control the entire game Tuesday — until the end. Arizona took a 12-8 lead into the ninth as the Scottsdale skies started to gray. The D-backs recorded the first out, but the next five Giant batters reached base. Kyle Jensen stepped to the plate with his team down two and the bases loaded. When it rained, it poured for the Giants Tuesday, as the former D-back smacked a walk-off grand slam to center field. Minutes after the walk-off win in front of a majority Giants crowd in Scottsdale, rain hammered the field, and the grounds crew rolled out the tarp. San Francisco Giants first baseman Kyle Jensen (80) is greeted by manager Bruce Bochy (15) after hitting a walk-off grand slam to give the Giants a 14-12 victory over the Diamondbacks Tuesday at Scottsdale Stadium. [Mark Carlisle/Independent Newsmedia][/caption]