Christian Walker had three hits and two RBIs to help the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-1 win over the Oakland Athletics in the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix.
Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt allowed one run and five hits over six innings. He struck out eight and walked two.
Joe Mantiply (3-1) threw an inning of scoreless relief, followed by Ryan Thompson in the eighth and Paul Sewald in the ninth.
Blaze Alexander contributed a pinch-hit two-run single to break a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning for the Diamondbacks, who had lost three in a row before winning 3-0 on Saturday night.
A’s starter Luis Medina matched Pfaadt for six innings, allowing one run and four hits while striking out five and walking three.
Zack Gelof hit his ninth home run of the season and Kyle McCann had two of the five hits for the A’s, who have dropped seven of eight.
T.J. McFarland (1-1) relieved Medina to start the seventh and hit pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk with a pitch. One out later, Corbin Carroll doubled to put runners on second and third.
Ketel Marte, who came in 9-for-18 on the homestand with three doubles, two home runs, five runs and six RBIs, was walked intentionally before McFarland was lifted for Austin Adams.
Alexander then pinch-hit for Joc Pederson and grounded a base hit through the left side with the infield in to score two runs for a 3-1 lead.
Alexander was thrown out trying to take second on the play, but Walker followed with a single just under the backhand of shortstop Aledmys Diaz to score another run for a 4-1 lead.
The Diamondbacks tacked on another run in the eighth on a leadoff walk to Eugenio Suarez followed by a one-out RBI double by Geraldo Perdomo to make it 5-1.
Arizona took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning after Marte led off with a walk and Pederson followed with a single to center. Walker then singled to left on a 1-2 pitch to put the first run on the board.
Gelof homered to lead off the fifth and tie the score 1-1.
–Field Level Media
