Down by two in the ninth inning, the Arizona Diamondbacks scored four runs to come back and beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-6 Wednesday afternoon.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Brandon Pfaadt started for the Diamondbacks (3-3) and allowed two runs on two hits in one inning. Tommy Henry pitched three scoreless innings to snap a two-game losing streak.
Starting pitcher Joey Cantillo struck out one batter, and gave up one run on one hit while Angel Martínez was 2-for-2 with a run for the Guardians (2-3).
Late-game Chaos
In the first inning, the Guardians got on the board up 2-0 with José Ramírez doubling followed up by Gabriel Arias singling for two RBI hits.
Trailing by two early, Tucker Barnhart hit an RBI double in the second to make it 2-1. Barnhart was 2-for-2 at the plate in the matinee.
The Diamondbacks would then tie and take the lead in the fourth inning courtesy of a solo homer cranked by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. before Kyle Garlick smoked a double to left for Pavin Smith to score from third base.
Reliever Konnor Pilkington pitched in the bottom of the sixth, but had a rough outing on the mound for Arizona.
José Tena drove a run home off of a sacrifice fly and Alexfri Planez powered a two-run single to right for a 5-3 Cleveland lead. The Guardians had the bases loaded in the inning before Christian Montes De Oca replaced Pilkington to record the third out.
Austin Pope came into the seventh for the Diamondbacks and similar bullpen troubles happened, but Arizona got out of another jam with just one run allowed.
Christian Cairo capitalized on a passed ball behind J. J. D’Orazio and scored. After the bases were loaded again, Pope left the game as Kyle Backhus came in relief to strike out the side.
Sheng-Ping Chen connected on an RBI single in the top of the eighth to make it 6-4, before the Diamondbacks’ offense came to the team’s rescue in the ninth.
Coming up clutch, Caleb Roberts clobbered a two-run triple to tie the game 6-6.
Then, Kevin Graham hit the eventual game-winning RBI single before Chen tacked on another, grabbing Arizona an 8-6 lead. Chen went 2-for-2 on the day with two RBI’s.
Next Games
Diamondbacks: Home vs. San Francisco Giants (0-3) on Feb. 29 at 1:10 p.m. MST
Guardians: Away vs. Los Angeles Angels (2-3) on Feb. 29 at 1:10 p.m. MST
Andrew Knizner had 5 RBI’s, Rangers trounce Diamondbacks 10-3
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
