D-backs Show Grit In Extra Inning Win Over Giants

While the Diamondbacks didn’t play their best game against the San Francisco Giants tonight, they found a way to execute in enough key situations that made the difference. Ryne Nelson wasn’t dominant but effective, the offense executed with runners in scoring position, and the bullpen redeemed itself in a 4-3 win in 11 innings.

“We’re going to continue to play and do the little things,” said Ketel Marte, whose double in the 11th plated the winning run. “I was just trying to move the runner, try to hit the ball the other way. He threw me a fastball down the middle and I put my best swing on it.”

For Arizona, It was all those little things that added up in this game. It started with Ryne Nelson, who despite recording just four swings and misses on the night, held the Giants to just two runs in 6.2 innings. The defense was able to make plays behind him, most notably when Alek Thomas raced back to the wall to rob Wilmer Flores of an extra base hit in the first inning.

ALEK REALLY JUST DID THAT. pic.twitter.com/ct763Cs0kT
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 1, 2023

“Pitched really well tonight, defense came through for me,” said Nelson. “All the work leading up to this, it felt really good, bullpen was really good with it. I think there were some kinks to work out, but overall I think it’s going in the right direction.”

Trailing 2-0 entering the sixth, the D-backs pushed across two runs to tie the game. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Marte advanced to second on a wild pitch. That proved to be critical as Corbin Carroll singled to right two pitches later. Two batters later, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. tied the game when he ripped a ground ball down the left field line to score Carroll from second. The score remained the same going into extra innings.

In the 10th inning, the D-backs struck first when Emmanuel Rivera sliced a single to right-center to score Jake McCarthy from second. They were unable to tack on from there, which proved to be critical in the bottom half of the inning. Isan Diaz took advantage of a missed strike three call, which extended the at-bat, to advance Brandon Crawford to third. Crawford scored on a two-strike wild pitch that tied the game. Despite a pair of walks, Kevin Ginkel was able to prevent the Giants from tacking on in the 10th by striking out Flores on a slider.

“He can recalibrate and adjust,” said D-backs manager Torey Lovullo. “As young pitchers go, and we’ve seen him grow and develop, those are the things that take a little bit of time. But I thought there was a good mound visit by Carson [Kelly], just slowed him down and got him back in rhythm. Flo is probably their best hitter, one of their hottest hitters, he made five or six really good pitches and got the big strikeout.”

The top half of the 11th inning followed a similar script as the 10th. After Ketel Marte’s go-ahead double, Corbin Carroll bunted him to third. After an intentional walk to Christian Walker, Gurriel would not play the role of hero as he rolled into an inning-ending double play. That would be enough, as Scott McGough would keep the Giants off the board with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to close it out. Arizona’s bullpen, which had pitched to a 6.37 ERA in July and contributed to the team’s poor record over the last month, finished on a strong note with no earned runs allowed in the final 4.1 innings.

We made it interesting but got the job done in the series opener. 😅 pic.twitter.com/wTWAHdgujI
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 1, 2023

“They were nails, they were so solid,” said Lovullo. “They went out there and just dialed it up. You’re supposed to give up that run in extra innings, we did once and we didn’t the second time. That’s why we won the game. The guys locked in and just executed pitches.”

The D-backs will look to try to catch up to the Giants in the Wild Card race, as they enter play tomorrow in a three-way tie for the final Wild Card spot and a game back of the top spot. They will send their ace, Zac Gallen, on the mound to face All-Star right-hander Alex Cobb. First pitch at Oracle Park will be at 6:45pm PT.