Astros Edge Diamondbacks

Jose Altuve of the Astros forcing Ketel Marte of the Diamondbacks

Photo by Zac BonDurant/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

September 30, 2023

Astros 2, Diamondbacks 1

PHOENIX, Sep. 29 — Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña made a tremendous diving stop to rob Tommy Pham of a game-tying single, saving the game and, possibly, a playoff berth as his Astros defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 2–1, Friday night in front of 36,133 at Chase Field.

Diamondbacks staff ace Zac Gallen and Astros spot-starter Jose Urquidy each put in Quality Starts. Gallen scattered seven hits across 6 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out seven. His lone two runs allowed came on a homer. Urquidy tossed six scoreless innings, allowing two hits while walking three and striking out two.

The Astros reduced their magic number for a playoff berth to one (due to tiebreakers) and are now a game out of the AL West lead, thanks to the 8–0 Seattle Mariners win over the division-leading Texas Rangers. For the Diamondbacks, their magic number for a playoff berth remains at one. However, thanks to the Chicago Cubs losing 4–3 to the Milwaukee Brewers, the only team that can singlehandedly keep them from making the playoffs is the Cincinnati Reds, who clobbered the hapless St. Louis Cardinals, 19–2. Consequently, either a Diamondbacks win or a Reds loss will put the Diamondbacks in.

“We didn’t win, so it’s disappointing,” Gallen told reporters afterwards. “But we’ve got two left to play, so it’s in our hands.”

Astros, Diamondbacks Trade Zeroes

Gallen and Urquidy traded zeroes for the first five innings. The Astros poked two hits in the top of the first, a one-out single to left-center by third baseman Alex Bregman followed by an infield single to second by designated hitter Yordan Alvarez. But Gallen struck out right fielder Kyle Tucker and got first baseman Jose Abreu to ground into a 6–4 force play to retire the side. The Diamondbacks drew two walks in the bottom of the first, a leadoff walk by right fielder Corbin Carroll and a one-out walk by designated hitter Tommy Pham. First baseman Christian Walker, however, could not drive them in, lining to center for the second out. Center fielder Alek Thomas stranded the runners with an inning-ending strikeout.

Gallen pitched around a two-out double in the second by Peña and a one-out Abreu walk in the fourth. On the latter, left fielder Michael Brantley followed with a line-drive 4–3 double play to retire the side. Urquidy pitched around a two-out walk and stolen base by third baseman Jace Peterson in the second and a leadoff double in the third by Carroll.

Pulling Ahead

Gallen could not escape the sixth unscathed, however. After second baseman Jose Altuve struck out, Bregman legged out an infield single to the hole on the left side. Alvarez struck out looking before Tucker singled to right. Abreu, up next, crushed a high, deep drive to center. It hit the batter’s eye near the yellow line atop the 25-foot wall and rebounded halfway between center fielder Alek Thomas and the edge of the infield dirt behind second. The umpires initially ruled it a three-run home run, but a crew chief review showed that the ball did not clear the yellow line. By rule, the crew placed the runners where they, in the judgment of the crew, would have ended up had the initial call been a double. This scored both runners and gave Brantley a double.

Center fielder Chas McCormick led off the seventh with a single to left. After Peña lined to center on Gallen’s 104th pitch, manager Torey Lovullo summoned Ryan Thompson to pitch to Astros catcher Martin Maldonado. Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno picked McCormick off first before Maldonado grounded to short, retiring the side.

Heartbreak for Diamondbacks as Peña Saves Game for Astros

Phil Maton pitched a scoreless seventh for the Astros. Hector Neris, the #9 setup man in the AL, came on to pitch the eighth. Peterson welcomed him with a single to left. After a popup to third by shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, Carroll hit a grounder to first. Abreu whipped it to second for the force, but the Astros had no chance to double up the speedy Carroll. A walk by Marte, followed by a double steal, put both runners in scoring position for Pham. A grounder up the middle had all the markings of a game-tying two-run single, but Peña had other ideas. He dove to his left, fielded the ball, and nabbed Pham by less than a step, ending the inning with Diamondbacks fans pulling their hair out.

“(This game) can be so rewarding and then absolutely rip your heart out, basically, all in one play,” Lovullo said. “We’re on an emotional roller coaster as the play’s happening. But look, good players make good plays, and (Peña) is a very good player.”

Kevin Ginkel pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the Diamondbacks, keeping the score at 2–0. Ryan Pressly came in to close for the Astros in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Thomas hit a one-hopper to second. It clanked off Altuve’s glove for an error that gave the Diamondbacks life. After left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr struck out, Moreno belted a deep drive to left-center with the makings of a game-tying home run. It hit the wall on the fly, however, scoring Thomas on a double. Jordan Lawlar ran for Moreno as Peterson stepped to the plate. A grounder to second gave the Astros a narrow victory and the Diamondbacks a frustrating loss.

Looking Ahead

Urquidy (3–3) earned the win, while Gallen (17–9) took a tough loss. Pressly notched his 31st save of the season. The Astros (88–72) and Diamondbacks (84–76) square off again Saturday evening at 5:10 Arizona Time/7:10 Central. Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander (12–8, 3.32 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Astros against Merrill Kelly (12–7, 3.38 ERA) of the Diamondbacks in a battle of right-handers.

With the Diamondbacks and Astros each holding a magic number of one , they potentially could both be celebrating a playoff berth after the game. The Diamondbacks either need a win or a Reds loss to go through, while the Astros need a win.