In what started as a pitching duel between two CY Young candidates, Truist Field in Atlanta quickly became the host of a home run parade, one that the Braves would ultimately win.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Zac Gallen was seemingly in cruise control as the Diamondbacks ace tossed six perfect innings to get the afternoon started.
Meanwhile, Spencer Strider on the Braves also seemed unstoppable. Strider struck out 13 Diamondbacks batters through the first six innings while also only allowing two hits.
However, both offenses, almost out of nowhere, flipped a switch after six innings of a combined two runners reaching base.
It was the Braves that struck first with an Orlando Arcia solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, ending Zac Gallen’s perfect game.
This blast into the left field bleachers opened the floodgates for a slugfest in the final three innings.
Pitching duel turned home run derby
Just like fans have seen all season, it seemed the Diamondbacks just needed an invitation from the opposing team to start scoring some runs.
After Spencer Strider walked the first two batters in the top of the seventh, Dominic Canzone gave Arizona the lead with a three-run home run. It was Canzone’s first major league homer.
Dominic Canzone's first career home run gives the @Dbacks the lead! pic.twitter.com/g8hATlNYxq
— MLB (@MLB) July 20, 2023
Emmanual Rivera would follow this up with another homer, making it back-to-back, handing the Diamondbacks a 4-1 lead.
Then, the Braves would have some fun of their own, as Austin Riley led off the 7th inning with a triple. Riley was quickly driven in by a two-run home run off the bat of Matt Olson, making it a 4-3 game.
While Corbin Carroll did tack on some insurance with a solo blast in the eighth for Arizona, a two-run cushion would still not be enough.
With reliever Miguel Castro on the mound for the D-backs, Atlanta tacked on three runs in the 8th. It was a pair of home runs from Matt Olson and Austin Riley that put the final nail in the coffin.
It was a back-and-forth fight, but the Braves landed the final punch and avoided the sweep by stealing game three of the series with a 7-5 win.
Next up: Cincinnati
The Diamondbacks have one more stop in their nine-game road trip as they head to Cincinnati to take on the Reds starting on Friday.
Rookie Tommy Henry is scheduled to get the start for Arizona tomorrow at 4:10 PM.
Arizona will enter this series tied with the Giants for 2nd place in the NL West and two games behind the Dodgers for 1st.Â
