For the second straight Sunday, the Diamondbacks were one inning away from a series sweep. Carrying a 2-1 lead and one out to go, Paul Sewald served up a game-tying double to Joey Bart. Despite falling behind 6-2 in the top of the 10th, they fought hard and got the tying run to third but couldn’t get the last big hit in a 6-5 loss.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!It’s been a tough month for the Diamondbacks’ closer, who has allowed 10 runs in 9 2/3 innings with four blown saves. Those four blown saves account for the team’s eight losses in the month of July. The good news is during the month they’ve been able to overcome those outings, having won eight of their past nine series and are right in the thick of Wild Card contention.
Jake McCarthy, fresh off a five-hit game, was in the middle of the offense again. Following a double from Joc Pederson, McCarthy lined a ball into the right field corner for an RBI triple and scored on a Eugenio Suárez sacrifice fly. Those were the only two runs the Diamondbacks scored in the first nine innings.
Yilber DÃaz struggled with walks, with four in five scoreless innings, but kept the Pirates from taking advantage with just one hit allowed. The right-hander bent but didn’t not break, as he was able to use his slider to great effect. The pitch got four whiffs on seven swings and he landed five for called strikes. While a shaky outing by normal standards, it was enough that a deeper bullpen could get the job done.
Joe Mantiply served up a home run to Oneil Cruz and a single to Connor Joe before giving way to Kevin Ginkel, who induced an inning-ending double play. A.J. Puk and Ryan Thompson each pitched a clean inning, the former striking out the side in order and the latter getting some good defensive stops behind him.
That set the stage for Sewald to try to convert his sixth consecutive save opportunity. After a long battle, he served up a double off the center field wall for Rowdy Tellez. Although immediately in trouble, he struck out Joshua Palacios and Ke’Bryan Hayes to put themselves an out away from a sweep. Jumping ahead of pinch-hitter Joey Bart 0-1, he left a fastball up and out over the plate, leading to Bart plugging the right-center gap to tie the game. Sewald then rung up Jared Triolo for the final out.
Now in extra innings, Lovullo summoned Justin Martinez out of the bullpen. Ji Hwan Bae bunted a ball back to the mound, but Martinez was caught looking at the wrong base and Bae reached. A four-pitch walk loaded the bases for Andrew McCutchen, who hit a chopper to shortstop that Geraldo Perdomo had to throw on the run. Some fancy footwork by José Herrera at home plate and a challenge from the Diamondbacks resulted in the first out of the inning, with the possibility of escaping without damage.
And that’s where the wheels fell off for Martinez. A wild pitch on a splitter that nicked home plate and snuck past Herrera gave Pittsburgh the lead. A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and a two-run single made it a 6-2 game. It was an ugly reminder that while the 22-year-old flamethrower has a bright future in the big leagues, he’s got to avoid outings like these in order to take the next step.
Despite trailing by four, the Diamondbacks never gave up. Home runs by Eugenio Suárez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. got Arizona within one run. Corbin Carroll, representing the tying run, lined a ball into the right field corner for a triple. The last big hit ultimately didn’t come, with Perdomo grounding out to first for the final out.
The Diamondbacks stay at Chase Field to host the Washington Nationals. The last time Arizona saw them, the Nationals were still somewhat in the race but a tough month of July firmly has then in the sellers camp. It will be a chance for them to win their ninth series since June 28, provided they can continue this run. A pair of left-handers will start on Monday, first pitch at 6:40 P.M. MST, with Jordan Montgomery (7-5, 6.11 ERA) and Mitchell Parker (5-6, 4.34 ERA) taking the mound.
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Michael McDermott covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @MichaelMcDMLB
