Coming off a game with little offense and losing in disappointing fashion, the Arizona Diamondbacks were determined to get back in the win column on Tuesday night.
Left-handed pitcher Tommy Henry was set to start the game for the D-Backs, and just before the first pitch, it was announced that his catcher, Gabriel Moreno, would be scratched from the lineup due to a thumb contusion. Manager Torrey Lovullo confirmed that the injury was day-to-day and that it happened on a wild pitch in the ninth inning the night before. The veteran righty Kyle Hendricks was on the mound for the Chicago Cubs.
Going into the game, Arizona rolled out one of their best lineups all year. This led to a heavy offensive showdown as they won 12-11. It all started with a 1-0 lead via a Blaze Alexander RBI. Blaze’s name would be called throughout the night as he went 2-5 with three RBIs. Joc Pederson also hit his first D-Back home run, extending the lead to 4-1.
Tommy Henry made it to the fifth inning and didn’t make it out as he gave up four earned runs in the inning. His night ended with 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 1 BB, and 3 Ks. However, the Diamondbacks came out of the fifth inning with an 8-5 lead.
Luis Frias came into the game in the 7th inning and struggled. He loaded the bases for left-hander Kyle Nelson, who has been pitching well. Nelson would have his worst outing as he gave up a grand slam to Ian Happ. He was very close to getting out of the inning, but after giving up a hit and a walk, Nelson was faced with Happ and Happ won the battle.
The D-Backs eventually cut the Cubs’ lead down to one, after Blaze Alexander and Joc Pederson’s RBIs. The ninth inning came around and Ketel Marte was down to his final strike, with his back to the wall, he hit a game-tying solo home run that just barely got out.
Arizona wasn’t able to get the win in the ninth, but Kevin Ginkel came up clutch, getting three huge outs going into the bottom of the 10th. The hitter was Randal Grichuk, pinch-hitting for Joc Pederson, and with Christian Walker on second due to the extra-inning rule, Grichuk delivered the game-winning hit. He hit the ball into left-center field, and the Diamondbacks won their first game in extra innings this season. The Diamondbacks are now back at .500, being 9-9, and they have a chance to win the series on Wednesday with Brandon Pfaadt on the mound. Arizona headed in a positive direction.
