Arizona Diamondbacks OF David Peralta embraces challenge of hitting cleanup

PHOENIX — Upon his arrival at Chase Field on Tuesday, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta once again found his name listed behind Paul Goldschmidt in the lineup.

It marked the second straight day and third time in four games Peralta batted fourth.

That spot in the order is not easy.

Sure, hitters are more likely to get good pitches to hit — teams would much rather take their chances against a player not named Goldschmidt — but then they also must deliver in that role; and that’s where the D-backs have struggled since the trade of Mark Trumbo.

A.J. Pollock and most recently Yasmany Tomas have each enjoyed their own success hitting cleanup. Pollock is batting .462 with one home run and four RBI, while Tomas has a .311 average with three home runs and 17 RBI from the four-hole.

But consistent production is what manager Chip Hale is after, and he may have just found it in his second-year outfielder.

Peralta, 27, carried a four-game hitting streak from the cleanup spot into the game against Miami, going 8-for-16 with a double, triple, home run, four RBI and four runs scored.

“Wherever they’re going to put me in the lineup,” he said, “I’m just going to do my job; try to do my job, do my best and try to help the team to win and score some runs.”

Peralta said he hadn’t noticed being pitched differently while hitting fourth versus his at-bats elsewhere in the lineup.

Peralta has batted everywhere but leadoff and ninth this season.

“I’m just ready for that challenge, I like the challenge,” he said of his time as a cleanup hitter, “so every time we’re in the situation they walk Goldy to face me, I like that, I love that. It just makes me like more excited, ‘OK, I’m going to make them pay for that.'”

Peralta did exactly that Monday, hitting the first pitch from starter David Phelps in the third inning for a two-out, two-run single after Goldschmidt had walked ahead of him.

The base hit helped the D-backs end a six-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory.

“That’s what’s I’m trying to do,” Peralta said. “They’re trying to walk Goldy because he’s the best hitter. OK. They’re trying to get Peralta. Blah, blah. No. It’s not going to happen. It’s going to happen sometime, but not all the time.”

In 137 plate appearances from the four-hole this season, Peralta is batting .298 (36-for-121) with eight doubles, two triples, five home runs and 22 RBI. He’s been walked 12 times, once intentionally.

“He’s hitting very well,” Hale said, “that’s why he’s behind Goldy number-one and number-two it makes it hard to take him out of the lineup.”