If Danny Patterson’s first outing was a stumble, his second was a faceplant. Arizona’s first-round pick—drafted to be the closer of the future—once again found himself in the spotlight, and once again, he couldn’t get the job done.
The Diamondbacks dropped a 6–5 heartbreaker to the Washington Senators, and Patterson wore the loss. His line tells the story: 2 innings, 2 runs, 2 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, and a wild pitch that ultimately pushed across the go-ahead run in the 10th. ERA still sitting ugly, confidence hanging by a thread.
The Diamondbacks brass is in a bind. Word out of the clubhouse is that they’re considering sending him to AAA to get his head right. But at the same time, they know demoting a first-rounder after just two outings can do more damage than good. For now, he gets another chance. The message is simple: blow it again, and the ticket to Portland is waiting.
It’s not just the numbers—it’s the timing. Patterson’s blown saves have directly cost Arizona two games. Flip those outcomes, and the Diamondbacks would be 5–0, riding high on a perfect start. Instead, they’re 3–2, watching their rookie closer cough up leads.
Take a look at how it unraveled:
Top of the 9th (Washington down 5–4)
- Patterson gets ahead of Willie Greene, 0–2. Works the count full. Then leaves one over the plate. Solo shot, 403 feet. Tie game.
- He rebounds with strikeouts of Nunnally and Durham, but then gives up a single to Kendall before Guerrero flies out. Damage done.
Top of the 10th (Still tied 5–5)
- Patterson looks sharp at first, striking out Rodriguez and Belle back-to-back. Then the wheels fall off.
- Walks Carl Everett.
- Issues an intentional pass to McGriff.
- Walks Greene to load the bases.
- Then, with Nunnally at the plate, fires a wild pitch that lets Everett score the eventual winning run.
That’s the anatomy of a loss: one pitch mistake in the 9th, a complete lack of command in the 10th.
For Arizona, the stakes are already high. A franchise that just relocated, trying to build momentum with a fresh identity, now finds itself saddled with questions about its supposed bullpen anchor. Patterson’s stuff—five strikeouts show it’s there—but if he can’t locate, it doesn’t matter.
He’s out of excuses. The next outing may decide whether Danny Patterson remains the closer in Arizona or becomes just another name riding the bus to AAA.