Torey Lovullo says Diamondbacks starters’ leashes will shorten down the stretch

Eric Hosmer scorched a ball to left field for a double, the third consecutive hit off Diamondbacks right-hander Zack Godley to open the fifth inning on Saturday. The hit appeared to be the latest piece of evidence that Godley’s night might be nearing an end.

Instead, manager Torey Lovullo stuck with his starting pitcher through the inning and, in the process, watched a lead turn into a deficit in a game the Diamondbacks would eventually lose to the San Diego Padres on a walk-off hit in the ninth inning.

Since taking over as Diamondbacks manager prior to last season, Lovullo routinely has asked a lot of his rotation. And last year, with a group of five starters that might have comprised the…