CHICAGO — When the D-backs got here into Wrigley Field on Thursday to open a four-game set, they had been attempting to maintain maintain of the No. 3 National League Wild Card spot.
Three days — and three wins — later, Arizona has not solely strengthened its maintain, it is out of the blue only one sport behind the Cubs, who maintain the No. 2 spot.
It hasn’t been playoff baseball, however it certain has felt prefer it, with all three contests being tightly contested in entrance of huge crowds with only a contact of fall chill within the air.
On Saturday afternoon, the 2 groups locked up in a 10-inning battle that resulted in a 3-2 Arizona win.
Here’s a have a look at some issues it’s best to find out about Saturday’s sport:
It didn’t begin out significantly nicely for the D-backs
Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte fouled the primary pitch of the sport off his proper knee and instantly collapsed to the bottom. After being examined by a group coach, he stayed within the sport and singled to left.
Marte would finally depart the sport within the seventh inning because the knee stiffened up on him, and he was limping within the clubhouse after the sport.
D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo mentioned X-rays taken of Marte’s knee had been detrimental and that he could be daily. While the chance exists that he may play in Sunday’s sequence finale, it additionally wouldn’t be a shock if Lovullo provides him a day without work.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. continues to shine defensively
When the D-backs acquired Gurriel from the Blue Jays in an offseason commerce, there have been some questions on his protection in left discipline.
And whereas Gurriel doesn’t at all times make it look simple on the market, he has discovered a manner time and time once more to provide you with large defensive performs this yr. On Saturday, there have been two.
With one out within the backside of the ninth, Yan Gomes hit a ball off the wall in left. Gurriel fielded it on one bounce and fired a strike to second to nail Gomes.
That was essential as a result of Nick Madrigal adopted with a double to proper that might have scored Gomes from second with the game-winning run. Instead, Madrigal was left stranded at second and the sport went to additional innings.
“I thought it might be a home run because of the wind and everything, but once it bounced off the wall I knew I had a play at second,” Gurriel mentioned.
In the tenth inning, Gurriel made a really good play on a deep fly ball from Ian Happ that might show essential, because the Cubs had been solely capable of rating one run that inning.
The D-backs as soon as once more discovered a solution to pull it out
While the Cubs have discovered methods to make outs on the bases within the sequence, the D-backs have used their velocity and aggression to benefit from Chicago errors and to attain runs.
Corbin Carroll led off the fifth with a single to middle and promptly stole second base, finally scoring the one run Arizona would get earlier than additional innings.
In the tenth, the D-backs took benefit of a wild pitch and a handed ball to attain a pair of runs, which might show to be the distinction.
“Look, we made a couple of mistakes, we know what they are,” Lovullo mentioned. “But when we needed to, we rebounded, we did the things we were supposed to do. We played fast. We played aggressively. We played fearless, and it showed up at the right times and helped us win the game. I can give you 15 things that took place today where, if it doesn’t go that way, we might have a totally different outcome. But I’m really proud of the way we came out and responded and did our job and won the game.”
Content Source: www.mlb.com