PHOENIX -- Little by little Diamondbacks pitcher Josh Collmenter is starting to look like the starter that played a key role in the team's run to an NL West crown last season. The only problem? The results still aren't there.
Collmenter again improved on his last outing Tuesday but a pair of bad innings saddled him with a loss in a game the Phillies took 8-5.
Despite Collmenter (0-2) allowing six runs on nine hits, including two home runs, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson liked what he saw.
"He threw the ball the best he's thrown it all year," Gibson said. "Josh threw the ball well. I don't know what to say, he's throwing the ball much better than he was."
Collmenter started the season with 10 earned runs in seven innings over two starts. His third start was his best to that point, as he went 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs, two of which came in a hard luck inning. But it was clear Tuesday that Collmenter had his best stuff yet.
The start was Collmenter's longest, as he lasted into the seventh inning before being pulled. He was also efficient, throwing just 80 pitches. It was the fourth inning that did Collmenter in. After cruising through the first three innings with just a pair of singles allowed, Collmenter surrendered four runs on four hits in the fourth, including home runs to Hunter Pence and Laynce Nix.
"I really felt good, (but) I just didn't execute pitches when I needed to," Collmenter said. "Any time you don't do well you get frustrated, but tomorrow's another day and you just keep going at it. I'm not going to change up what I do."
The game was still within reach, but, as he did in his last outing, Collmenter got off to a rough start his last inning out. He gave up a pair of singles to lead off the seventh inning before being pulled. Both runners would score with Bryan Shaw on the mound.
"Every pitch I made that didn't go where I wanted to ended up where they wanted it," Collmenter said. "You take away a couple big blasts and we're right there in the ball game."
That's just the problem: You can't take away those blasts. The D-backs loss was their third in four Collmenter starts. His ERA is 9.82. There's no doubt he's looked much better and a few pitches could have changed Tuesday's outcome, but the results simply haven't been there yet. Gibson, though, disagreed.
"I think the results were there for him," Gibson said. "I mean, he gave up two home runs, which is a concern. … I'm not thinking about (what's next). We just lost the game. I'm thinking about getting this over with and thinking about tomorrow."
Results right now for Collmenter might mean steady improvement rather than wins, but how long can that last before the D-backs need to see outings they can win behind? Gibson said he and his staff will have conversations as they do after every game, but it doesn't appear Collmenter's spot is in danger right now, particularly with Daniel Hudson on the disabled list.
For now, Collmenter remains on the rise despite Tuesday's result, but may have to pitch to more tangible results soon or the D-backs will be forced to consider if they're putting themselves in position to win every game possible.
