PITTSBURGH — After dropping their three-game series in Washington, D.C., the Arizona Diamondbacks looked to start their next series against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a win.
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— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 28, 2026
Unfortunately, the D-Backs couldn’t come up with one, falling 3-2 in 10 innings after a walk-off single by Pittsburgh’s Brandon Lowe. But the game-winning hit wasn’t the only reason Arizona lost. Uncharacteristic hitting struggles and missed opportunities throughout the night cost the Snakes a chance to gain ground against a fellow Wild Card contender.
Jul 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Max Kepler (22) hits a two run double against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Diamondbacks led 2-0 after Max Kepler’s two-run double, but that advantage disappeared in the eighth inning when the Pirates tied the game. Arizona had a chance to retake the lead in the top of the 10th with runners on third and second base, but Gabriel Moreno struck out looking. Ketel Marte was intentionally walked to load the bases before Kepler’s line drive was caught to end the threat.
Those missed opportunities defined Arizona’s night at the plate. They finished 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position, a number that ultimately proved costly.
Merrill Kelly gave the club a quality start, allowing one unearned run over 5.2 innings after a throwing error.
Jul 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (middle) is mobbed by teammates afterhitting a game winning RBI single to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks in the tenth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Now on a three-game skid, the Diamondbacks’ room for error continues to shrink as they’re tied with Pittsburgh for the final National League Wild Card spo and could drop the season series with another loss. For a team weighing whether to buy or sell at the trade deadline, every game matters, and dropping consecutive games to teams competing for the same postseason berth only raises the stakes.
It also matters because of who they’re losing to.
Jul 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Taylor Clarke (45) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
These aren’t just losses in the standings — they’re losses that help the teams Arizona is trying to hold off, making it even tougher to remain in the Wild Card picture.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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