This story was originally published by Dead Spin
The Arizona Diamondbacks never led Monday’s opener of their three-game series with the Washington Nationals until after the very last pitch.
The Diamondbacks will try to ride the momentum of a five-run, ninth-inning comeback when they face the Nationals on Tuesday night at Phoenix.
Corbin Carroll’s pinch-hit, two-run line-drive homer over the fence in right capped the rally and gave Arizona a 9-8 victory. It was the Diamondbacks’ 17th win in 25 games, but also one that was very unlikely.
Washington scored five runs in the first inning and later led 8-2 before Arizona scored the final seven runs.
“We’ve been saying it all year — we’re never out of the game,” Carroll said afterward. “It’s not over until it’s over, and we’ve been putting together some really great late-game at-bats and it’s been paying off.”
The Diamondbacks often are called the “Answerbacks” around Phoenix due to their propensity for fighting back from deficits.
But even Arizona manager Torey Lovullo had doubts as Washington scored the first six runs of the game.
“That was a team that played with heart, determination and a lot of will,” Lovullo said. “The first couple innings were very difficult. We got flattened. But we kept chipping away.”
Ketel Marte also hit a two-run shot in the ninth — his 24th homer of the season — as Arizona lit up Washington closer Kyle Finnegan for five runs in a non-save situation.
“Just wasn’t able to get it done tonight,” Finnegan said. “I was ahead of every guy I faced — just wasn’t able to put them away.”
Nationals manager Dave Martinez didn’t have any second thoughts about using Finnegan (28 saves) when it wasn’t a save situation.
“We came out swinging the bats well,” Martinez said. “Those guys are known to chip away like that and come back.
“To be up four runs and get the ball to Finnegan, I felt pretty good about it. It just didn’t happen tonight.”
Alex Call hit a three-run homer to cap Washington’s five-run first inning. He was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.
“Alex jump-started us with the home run and that was awesome,” Martinez said “… We have to come back tomorrow and forget about this one.”
The Nationals traded outfielder Lane Thomas to the Cleveland Guardians for three prospects prior to Monday’s game.
Arizona could be without standout first baseman Christian Walker in the middle game of the series. He exited prior to the top of the fourth on Monday due to left oblique tightness. Lovullo said he was concerned and that Walker will undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday.
Washington left-hander Patrick Corbin (2-10, 5.26 ERA) is making his second start against Arizona this season. He received a no-decision on June 19 when he gave up one run and three hits over five innings.
Corbin, 35, has never beaten the Diamondbacks. He’s 0-3 with an 8.87 ERA in five career outings and has experienced trouble with Marte (5-for-12, two homers), Walker (5-for-10) and Eugenio Suarez (8-for-22, one homer).
Corbin lost to the San Diego Padres on Thursday when he gave up three runs and four hits over seven innings.
Arizona right-hander Ryne Nelson (7-6, 4.85) will make the start on Tuesday.
Nelson, 26, gave up one run three times in a four-start span before allowing four runs and nine hits over six innings against the Kansas City Royals last Wednesday. He received a no-decision.
Nelson defeated the Nationals on June 20 when he gave up two runs and three hits in a 5-2 road victory. He is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two career starts against Washington.
Keibert Ruiz is hitless in six at-bats against Nelson.
–Field Level Media
