Last week’s start against the Angels was rough for Slade Cecconi, who allowed seven runs on 10 hits in just three innings. “That was the worst one of my career,” Cecconi admitted. However, D-backs pitching coach Brent Strom noticed a mechanical issue that he believed could be corrected.
Just five days later, Cecconi put those adjustments into action, delivering six scoreless innings on Tuesday night as the D-backs triumphed with a 5-0 victory over the Nationals at Nationals Park.
After his rough outing, which pushed his ERA to 6.70, Cecconi relied heavily on the support system in the D-backs clubhouse to maintain his confidence while working on his mechanics. “I had a lot of people in my corner this week,” he said. “Telling me they believed in me, giving me food for thought, and helping me out.”
It started with Strom right after the game against the Angels, and continued with D-backs manager Torey Lovullo, who called Cecconi into his office the following day. Known for his ability to connect with players, Lovullo gave Cecconi the encouragement and the push he needed.
“Lovullo’s message was clear,” Cecconi recalled. “He told me, ‘I’m better than that and I’m going to be better than that,’ and to focus this week on what I need to improve.”
“Lovullo’s message was clear,” Cecconi recalled. “He told me, ‘I’m better than that and I’m going to be better than that,’ and to focus this week on what I need to improve.”Assistant pitching coach Dan Carlson and veteran catcher Tucker Barnhart also provided guidance. “Tucker Barnhart went through a lot with me about pitching, executing pitches, and shared thoughts that helped me focus,” Cecconi said. “Encouragement from a manager, pitching coach, or veteran catcher boosts your confidence.”
Cecconi identified that his mechanical issue involved not being directional enough toward home plate, which affected his command. Adjusting his right foot placement on the pitching rubber made a noticeable difference. On Tuesday, he was able to locate his pitches effectively across both sides of the plate.
“We worked on it early in the week,” he said. “So I could just concentrate on executing pitches without worrying about mechanics during the game.”
The Nationals failed to get a hit off Cecconi until the fourth inning and only had one runner reach second base before Lovullo removed him after six innings and 70 pitches on a humid night.
“Cecconi was outstanding tonight,” said Nationals left fielder Jesse Winker. “He commanded both sides, up and down, and he had a great night.”
With the win, the D-backs moved to within one game of the .500 mark at 36-37 and clinched the third NL Wild Card spot. This is a significant achievement for a team that has faced numerous injuries and hasn’t yet hit its full stride.
“I’m proud of that,” Lovullo said, “but we’ve got a long way to go and a lot better baseball to play.”
This win marked the 10th consecutive game that the D-backs have played in which the outcome was decided by five or more runs, the longest such streak in the Modern Era (since 1900). Over that stretch, the D-backs are 6-4, showing resilience as they fight for playoff contention.
