D-backs Finish Successful Road Trip Despite Loss to Phillies

The Diamondbacks were not able to complete a sweep against the Philadelphia Philllies, as they lost 6-5 in 10 innings. Arizona had an early 5-0 lead and their ace on the mound, but were not able to finish the game. While this loss certainly stings, we shouldn't lose sight of the big picture. On this nine-game road trip, the team captured series wins in Oakland, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia.

Arizona currently sits at 29-21, two games back of the Dodgers for the National League West division lead and 3.5 games ahead of the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates for the top Wild Card spot. Young starters Ryne Nelson and Tommy Henry are getting more comfortable each time out, with both of them delivering strong starts in this series. The team is trending upward, but they are still very much in the process of learning how to win baseball games.

Twice on this road trip, the D-backs had a late lead only to watch it slip and eventually lose in extra innings when the offense could not recover. For Arizona to stay in the playoff race, they cannot afford to continue to have lapses like today. "This is a baseball game we have to win, no ifs, ands, or buts about that," said a frustrated Zac Gallen. "If we want to go where we want to want to go, we have to win the baseball games we're supposed to win."

Gallen, pitching in front of friends and family, wasn't as sharp with his command but kept Philadelphia off the scoreboard for the first five innings. He was unable to complete the sixth, as the pitch count climbed and left with two runners on and two outs. Both runners he left on base would come around to score. His final line was two runs on five hits, two walks, and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Arizona's inability to cash in with runners in scoring position late kept the Phillies in the game. In the top of the sixth, the first three hitters drew walks to load the bases. After two strikeouts and a groundout, the D-backs walked away with no runs and the momentum starting shifting to the Phillies after Arizona dominated the game up to that point. After Philadelphia scored three in the bottom half of the inning, the D-backs once again loaded the bases but failed to score. Arizona hitters finished the game 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position, with both hits coming as part of a four-run third inning.

Despite those missed opportunities, they still clung onto a 5-3 lead entering the bottom of the ninth. José Ruiz retired the first two hitters of the inning and had a two-strike count to Bryson Stott, but the inning got away from there. After Stott singled, Trea Turner hammered a first-pitch curveball for a long home run that tied the game. When Arizona was unable to score their ghost runner in the top of the 10th, Alec Bohm finished off the game with a drive off the right field wall to complete the comeback for Philadelphia.

Arizona returns home for a 10-game homestand, starting Friday, with the Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, and Atlanta Braves on tap. Boston will send left-hander Chris Sale on the mound, while the D-backs will make a decision on who will start Friday. Either Zach Davies will be activated from the 15-day injured list or rookie right-hander Brandon Pfaadt will make his fifth career start.