The Arizona Diamondbacks aim to build off a big win when they host the Athletics for a three-game series beginning Monday in Phoenix.
Trailing 7-0 entering the sixth inning Sunday against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, the Diamondbacks rallied with eight unanswered runs over the next five innings, culminating in Max Kepler’s walk-off RBI double in the 10th to take an 8-7 victory.
“Obviously, we needed it as a team,” said third baseman Nolan Arenado, who tied the game with a two-run homer in the eighth inning.
“Just a well-fought game for us, just to come back like that was incredible. Arguably, our best win of the year, but just to see us — the way we fought and didn’t give in, we could have easily done that. We didn’t, so that was great.”
The win, which matched the largest come-from-behind victory in franchise history, was key for Arizona in the race for a playoff spot. It pulled the team within a half a game of St. Louis, the Miami Marlins and the Pittsburgh Pirates for the final wild-card spot in the National League.
It also clinched the season series against the Cardinals with just one game remaining between the two clubs, as Arizona has taken four of six. That would give the Diamondbacks the first tiebreaker edge should the two teams finish the season with identical records.
“What looks so good to me is the guys are very focused on their task despite it being a very rugged terrain for them to climb through. And they managed it,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.
Designated hitter Adrian Del Castillo, recalled from Triple-A Reno on Saturday, went 2-for-3 and scored a pair of runs in Sunday’s win.
“Del is a good hitter,” Lovullo said. “When his timing’s right, when the flow to the swing is on time, he can impact the baseball, he can impact a baseball game.”
Mitch Bratt (0-0, 6.00 ERA) will take the mound for the hosts in search of his first career win in his third appearance. The 23-year-old rookie allowed three runs on three hits over three innings a no-decision in his last outing, a 5-3 Arizona road win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 12.
The Athletics will counter with fellow left-hander Jeffrey Springs (3-9, 6.08), who is 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA in three career appearances (one start) against the Diamondbacks.
The lefty surrendered six runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings in the Athletics’ 6-1 loss to the host Detroit Tigers on July 8. Springs hasn’t won since earning his third straight victory on April 14. Since then, he is 0-9 over his past 15 appearances.
The Athletics will be hoping for a strong outing from Springs as they try to break out of a stretch of 19 losses in their past 23 games. They snapped a 10-game skid with a 15-1 win against the Washington Nationals on Saturday before falling 5-2 in the finale of the three-game set on Sunday.
They went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine in their most recent loss.
“We just couldn’t get the big hit to get back in that game,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “The guys took good at-bats. … We couldn’t put them together enough and capitalize with some guys in scoring position with two outs.”
–Field Level Media
