Diamondbacks Bullpen Coughs Up Late Leads in Loss to Yankees

The Diamondbacks had an opportunity to take the series against the New York Yankees, holding a lead in both the 7th and 8th innings, but could not close out the game in a 6-4 loss. With the loss, Arizona is now tied with the Chicago Cubs for the second Wild Card spot and their lead for a playoff spot drops to just one game with six to play.

Handed leads of 3-2 and 4-3, the bullpen twice was unable to put up a zero to preserve the lead. Ryan Thompson, who threw 10 scoreless innings to begin his D-backs career, surrendered a game-tying solo home run to Oswald Peraza in the 7th. The damage could have been much worse, but Alek Thomas leaped at the wall to rob Aaron Judge of a go-ahead extra base hit to preserve the tie. After getting that run back in the following inning, Kevin Ginkel allowed three runs to cross in the 8th. Ginkel struggled with command, as two walks followed a pair of singles to open the frame. His last pitch, an Estevan Florial sacrifice fly, gave the Yankees a lead they would not relinquish.

The D-backs got off to a good start in this game, taking a 2-0 lead on a Thomas two-out, two-run double down the right field line. However the bottom of the first inning set the tone for the type of game it was going to be, as the Yankees made Merrill Kelly labor for 35 pitches to get through the inning. Kelly was able to bounce back, as he allowed just two runs in five innings on four hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. His lone blemish came in the 4th, on a two-run home run by Austin Wells that tied the game at 2-2.

After Wells' game-tying home run, the score remained 2-2 until the 7th. Corbin Carroll singled with one out, stole second, then scored on a Gabriel Moreno RBI single. Carroll later drove in the go-ahead run in the 8th with a two-out, bases-loaded single to left. The D-backs had a chance to try to tack more runs to push this game away, but couldn't get another big hit. After Ginkel's meltdown in the bottom half of the inning, Arizona was retired in order in the 9th to complete a very frustrating loss.

The loss stings for the D-backs and their playoff chances, but they'll need to move on quickly as they prepare for a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. With a tight National League Wild Card race, they'll need to pick up as many wins as they can get against a team looking to just finish out the season. Zach Davies (2-5, 6.81 ERA) will take the mound tomorrow against Chicago, while the White Sox will send right-hander José Ureña (0-6, 7.27 ERA). First pitch at Guaranteed Rate Field will be at 4:40pm MST.