Diamondbacks see positive signs at the plate despite slow start

Eduardo Escobar turned on a first-pitch fastball down and inside in the ninth inning on Thursday afternoon, blasting it out of the ballpark the same way he has dozens of times over the past few years.

It was a rare positive for both Escobar and the Diamondbacks offense as a whole in the first week of the season. But for manager Torey Lovullo it wasn’t just the home run that encouraged him. It was what preceded it — and, taken in full, it was a sequence of events that creates optimism for Lovullo that his lineup could be close to turning a corner.

In two plate appearances earlier in the game on Thursday, Escobar patiently worked a pair of walks. He is known for his lack of approach at the…