Arizona Diamondbacks move closer to postseason with victory over Giants

The Arizona Diamondbacks won a game they desperately needed, winning 8-2 on Wednesday night at Chase Field thanks to a dominant performance from right-hander Zac Gallen.

With the win, the Diamondbacks move one game ahead of the Atlanta Braves and secure the last wild-card spot in their final series of the season, a three-game series against the San Diego Padres that begins Friday night at Chase Field.

Gallen, who was inconsistent in the second half, had a strong performance in a game he almost had to win, recording a season-high 11 strikeouts in six one-run innings while allowing just two hits and two walks.

After allowing an RBI double to Tyler Fitzgerald in the second inning, Gallen retired 12 consecutive batters and 14 of 15 to end his appearance.

The Diamondbacks avoided a three-game sweep of the Giants, easing concerns about a season-ending slump. They probably need to win another game or two this weekend to avoid that possibility entirely. Their task could be made easier if the Dodgers dash the Padres’ hopes of winning the division, leaving the Padres with less room to maneuver this weekend.

The Diamondbacks fell behind 1-0 early in the second inning on Monday night, but responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning on RBI singles by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno and a sacrifice fly by Corbin Carroll.

They scored one run in each of the next two innings. After the Giants cut the lead to 5-2 in the eighth inning, the Diamondbacks responded with a comeback that was capped by a three-run home run by Pavin Smith.

Relievers Justin Martinez, AJ Puk and Kevin Ginkel shared responsibility for the final three innings.

—Nick Piecoro

Zac Gallen reaches season high in strikeouts

With wild-card competition in the National League so tight and the Arizona Diamondbacks potentially moving closer to the postseason or elimination, Wednesday’s game was almost a must-win. And the Diamondbacks responded, scoring five runs on nine hits in seven innings.

Zac Gallen, the DBacks’ top hitter, finished six innings Wednesday night with a season-high 11 strikeouts, allowing one run on two hits and two walks. Gallen’s curveball fooled Giants hitters several times and produced strikeouts.

The Diamondbacks made it 5-1 when Christian Walker brought in Ketel Marte with a base hit in the fourth inning. The Giants have used four pitchers so far.

The number of fans in attendance at Chase Field was reported to be 23,767.

-Jose M. Romero

Gurriel and Moreno secure comfortable lead at the DBacks

After allowing the first run of the game early in the second inning, the Arizona Diamondbacks scored three times in the bottom half of the inning to take a 4-1 lead over the San Francisco Giants after three innings at Chase Field in a game that was crucial for the Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks took the lead in the second inning with RBI singles by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno and a sacrifice fly by Corbin Carroll. The inning began with a double by Christian Walker and was extended by two walks by Giants right-hander Mason Black, who allowed free runs to Eugenio Suarez and Geraldo Perdomo.

The Giants scored the game’s first run off right-hander Zac Gallen on an RBI double by Tyler Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald brought home Michael Conforto, who led off the inning with a walk.

Arizona scored another run on Black’s fifth walk of the game, a free pass with two outs that Moreno pulled to bring in Walker. Black was then subbed out for right-handed reliever Sean Hjelle, who took Geraldo Perdomo out of the game with a fly to center.

The Diamondbacks, who have three games left after Wednesday night, are looking to end a three-game losing streak.

—Nick Piecoro

Lovullo focused on his team when the Mets-Braves game was postponed

While the Arizona Diamondbacks fight to remain a wild card team on Wednesday and into the weekend, the teams they are battling for two wild card spots in the National League postseason do not play until Friday.

Instead, it could be Monday night before the Diamondbacks – assuming they are still in the running by then – know where they are in the wildcard rankings and which opponent they will face if they qualify.

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday afternoon before the Mets-Braves and Giants-Diamondbacks games that the games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday between host Atlanta and the Mets at Truist Park have been postponed due to the weather forecast and inclement weather.

According to the MLB, the games will be rescheduled for a doubleheader on Monday in Atlanta, starting in Phoenix at 10:10 a.m. The second game of the doubleheader begins 40 minutes after the last out of the first game.

The situation arose as Hurricane Helene began approaching Florida and Georgia, bringing rain to the Atlanta area on Wednesday.

The Diamondbacks were looking to win Wednesday night to secure a one-game lead over Atlanta and the third wild-card spot, effectively tying the Mets for second place.

Torey Lovullo is grateful for the support of the Arizona Diamondbacks fans

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo shares what he thinks of the team’s fans and their support in the race for the 2024 MLB postseason.

Arizona has a bye on Thursday, so after the Diamondbacks’ result on Wednesday night, the three teams’ records remain unchanged going into Friday’s games.

New York visits Milwaukee this weekend and Atlanta will face the Kansas City Royals at home as they try to secure a wild card spot in the American League.

By Sunday, the Diamondbacks could be out of the race if they lose three of their final four games of the season and the Mets and Braves win their respective weekend series.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported Wednesday that it would be up to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s discretion whether to play Monday to determine seedings if the Diamondbacks are eliminated over the weekend and the Mets and Braves have not yet determined their seedings.

“We’re obviously aware of that and it makes no difference to me,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said before the Diamondbacks’ game on Wednesday. “I can honestly say I’m very concerned about what we can do in our dugout and in our clubhouse and how we can go out there and perform the best we can. That’s something I continue to talk to those guys about. Leave it to us, take care of what we do best and control what we can control.”

If Monday is crucial for the Diamondbacks’ playoff hopes, the team will watch the Mets’ games against the Braves, Lovullo said.

“I want you to know, honestly, that we’re in a good position because we deserve to be in a good position and we’re going to embrace that role,” Lovullo said. “The Braves and the Mets are going to compete and they’re going to do the exact same thing that we’re going to try to do and we can’t let what’s going on out there blind us.”

Lovullo said he was aware that the Diamondbacks had no edge over either team.

“It is what it is,” he said when asked why he could not play out a tie on the field. “We know the basic rules, so we accept whatever happens.”

“Rules are rules. As long as we know the landscape before we start, we will accept it.”

-Jose M. Romero

Top Diamondbacks talents in the Fall League squad

Major League Baseball on Wednesday announced the rosters and coaching staffs for the 2024 Arizona Fall League. The AFL begins on October 7 when the Mesa Solar Sox play the Surprise Saguaros at Sloan Park in Mesa, the training facility of the Chicago Cubs.

Diamondbacks talent on the Salt River Rafters roster includes left-handed pitchers Philip Abner and Yu-Min Lin, right-handers Kyle Amendt, Alfred Morillo and Dylan Ray, infielders Gino Groover and Tommy Troy and outfielder Kristian Robinson.

According to MLB Pipeline, Troy is the Diamondbacks’ fifth-ranked prospect, Lin is ranked seventh and Groover is ranked ninth. Ray is listed at 16th.

Robinson was out of the organization from 2020 to 2022 for legal reasons and spent 2024 at Double-A Amarillo.

-Jose M. Romero

Latest information on injuries to Paul Sewald and Ryne Nelson

Right-hander Paul Sewald threw 17 pitches in his second bullpen session since landing on the injured list, Lovullo said.

Sewald’s next step will likely involve facing hitters in some capacity, Lovullo said.

Sewald was the Diamondbacks’ closer until he was released from that position in early August. Since then, he has put up decent results in 12 games, posting a 4.15 ERA with just three walks compared to 15 strikeouts in 13 innings.

He ended up on the injured list for the last home game because of what Lovullo described as a “disc problem” that caused discomfort on the left side of his neck and left shoulder area.

Right-hander Ryne Nelson (shoulder) played catcher on Wednesday and remained trending toward a return this weekend. Lovullo indicated Nelson would be activated from the injured list in the next few days.

—Nick Piecoro

Soon

Thursday: Out of.

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (5-0, 3.71) vs. Padres LHP Martin Perez (5-5, 4.25).

Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-4, 5.56) vs. Padres RHP Yu Darvish (6-3, 3.18).

Sunday: At Chase Field, 12:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (10-10, 4.80) vs. Padres RHP Michael King (13-9, 2.95).

Arizona Diamondbacks move closer to postseason with victory over Giants

ByJasper

Zac Gallen reaches season high in strikeouts

Gurriel and Moreno secure comfortable lead at the DBacks

Lovullo focused on his team when the Mets-Braves game was postponed

Top Diamondbacks talents in the Fall League squad

Latest information on injuries to Paul Sewald and Ryne Nelson

Soon

By Jasper

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