Three 8th Inning Homers Break Open Close Game for D-backs

The Diamondbacks are known throughout the league as a team that excels in small ball, the stolen base, sacrifice bunts, timely hits, and a never give up attitude to keep the pressure on the other team. But tonight they defeated on the Guardians on the strength of four home runs, three of which came in 8th inning, breaking open a 2-2 tie to eventually win 6-3

The game could not have started off more poorly. Tommy Henry labored through a 27 pitch first inning. After giving up singles to Steven Kwan and Amed Rosario to begin the inning, he issued two straight two-out walks to allow Cleveland to score the first run. He struck out Myles straw to end the inning, averting disaster, but after needing 27 pitches in jus the first frame, it didn't seem like he would last long.

Henry gave up two more hits with two outs in the second but got out of that inning by getting Jose Ramirez to pop out to Ketel Marte who made a nice running catch into shallow right field. In the third inning Amed Rosario tagged Henry for a solo homer giving the Guardians a 2-0 lead. Then in the fourth inning Henry once again gave up a couple of two-out singles and once again retired Ramirez to get out of the jam, this time on a grounder to Christian Walker.

At the same time, Guardians starter and ace, Shane Bieber was dealing. He threw first pitch strikes to nine of the first 10 batters faced and gave up just one single through the first three innings. Marte walked to leadoff the 4th inning however and one out later Christian Walker launched an opposite field homer to tie up the game at 2-2.

CHRISTIAN WALKER!!

TIE GAME!! pic.twitter.com/p8ZPXkbrND
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) June 18, 2023

After the game Torey Lovullo said that energized the dugout, but Bieber continued to pitch exceptionally well after the Walker homer, retiring 10 of the next 13 batters giving up just a walk and a couple singles spread out over the 6th and seventh innings.

Henry meanwhile settled down, retiring the side in order in both the 5th and 6th innings. When the evening started it would have been hard to imagine he would last six innings and only give up two runs. He gave up seven hits, all in the first four innings, walked two and struck out three. He threw 88 pitches, 60 for strikes. Assessing his outing Henry was honest in how he felt

"Not the greatest, but you just have to hang around as a starting pitcher, do what you can to get outs. Wait for things to click for you and give the offense a chance to do their thing."

That wait lasted until the 8th inning when he and Joe Mantiply were in the weight room doing their post game lift. Mantiply had relieved Henry and pitched 1.2 scoreless innings. The two left-handers would have plenty to get excited about from their vantage point in the clubhouse

Bieber went back to to pitch the 8th to face Jake McCarthy leading off. He worked the count to 2-2 before getting a slider down and in that he was able to turn on and lift over the wall in right center for the go ahead homer.

Jake McCarthy go ahead homer was a moment we’ve been waiting for

pic.twitter.com/8cO45jMlzn
— Jack Sommers (@shoewizard59) June 18, 2023

One out later Marte singled to get on base for the third time, and then with chants of MVP raining down, Corbin Carroll mashed a 426 foot laser to to right 110 MPH off the bat for a two run shot. After Bieber was finally pulled from the game, Lourdes Gurriel Jr followed with a two out homer to make it 6-2.

McCarthy got to wear the victory vest for the first time this season during post game interviews, and jokingly thanks Carroll for letting him wear it.

"I just wanna thank Corbin for letting me borrow his vest for the day."

These @Dbacks have no problem sharing. pic.twitter.com/CLm6b6ZPWD
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) June 18, 2023

Henry said after the game that as they were doing their lifts, "every second we looked up if felt like we were watching another guy hit a homer and jog around the bases. We were pretty excited in there. The offense is fun to watch. It takes a lot of stress off us as pitchers. It was just cool to see the sparks fly like that. "

Kyle Nelson came in to pitch the 9th but walked the leadoff batter and gave up a base hit with one out. Scott McGough came in but gave up a bloop single to right, bringing the tying run to the plate with no one else but Ramirez stepping in. He lifted a deep fly to center to score a run, but a ground out to walker ended the game with the final score 6-3. Miguel Castro, who recorded one out in the 8th got the win, he's now 4-2. Scott McGough, who has been transitioning to a high leverage role, picked up his 3rd save.

With the win the D-backs are now 43-28, four games ahead of the Dodgers and 4.5 games ahead of the hard charging Giants in the NL West. The series finale is tomorrow, Fathers Day, at 1:10 P.M. Arizona Time. Tanner Bibee pitches for Cleveland and Zach Davies gets the ball for Arizona.