PHOENIX — Nolan Arenado watched his first swing of the fifth inning hook toward the left-field foul pole and drift just outside of it.
Sep 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a grand slam during the fifth inning at Chase Field during the game between Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
For a moment, it looked like the Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman had delivered a go-ahead grand slam against the New York Yankees during their series finale Sunday. Instead, the ball landed just foul, leaving Arenado to reset with the bases still loaded and Arizona still down 4-2.
One pitch later, he didn’t miss.
Arenado launched a grand slam — his third of the season — into the left-field seats, giving Arizona a 6-4 lead. The 381-foot home run sparked another Diamondbacks comeback and helped secure an 8-4 victory, giving Arizona the series against the Yankees.
Sep 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) celebrates a grand slam during the fifth inning catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) and right fielder Corbin Carroll (7) at Chase Field during the game between Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
Just a few innings earlier, the D-Backs were trailing 4-1 after starter Corbin Burnes surrendered three home runs to New York before eventually being pulled in the third inning.
Arizona began its comeback in the fifth. Lars Nootbaar doubled, Ketel Marte singled and Gabriel Moreno walked to load the bases against starter Will Warren. After a pitching change, Corbin Carroll walked to force home a run and bring Arenado to the plate.
Arenado’s first swing nearly gave Arizona the lead, but the ball hooked foul. Rather than chase the missed opportunity, he regrouped and waited for another pitch.
Sep 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) celebrates after hitting a grand slam during the fifth inning at Chase Field during the game between Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
“I was slightly bummed when I saw it go foul the first one, but I knew I just had to kind of regroup and just stay ready,” Arenado said postgame to the media, according to Alex Weiner. “I saw the first two pitches well, so I feel like I could just stay on the heater throughout the at-bat. And luckily I got another one middle and I was able to hit it up.”
That ability to reset became the defining moment of the game. What initially looked like a missed opportunity became a second chance, and Arenado made the most of it.
Nolan Arenado on regrouping after his foul ball to take the next pitch yard: pic.twitter.com/vsJrJDV95h
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) September 20, 2026
The win kept the Snakes’ postseason hopes alive with six games remaining. Arizona remained four games back of the final wild-card spot, with the Philadelphia Phillies the closest team ahead of them.
There is still plenty of work left for the Diamondbacks, but Arenado’s grand slam gave them something they needed most at this point in the season: another game to play with their postseason hopes intact.
With every game carrying more weight down the stretch, his second chance at the plate kept Arizona in the race and gave the team another reason to believe it can still make a late push for October.
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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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