PHOENIX, Aug. 25 — The Arizona Diamondbacks outslugged the Cincinnati Reds, 10–8, with aggressive hitting and baserunning on Friday night. In what has become an important series at Chase Field, rookie Brandon Pfaadt went up against Hunter Greene, and when Kevin Ginkel got the final out, Pfaadt picked up his first major league win.
Reds Get an Early Run
After a quiet first inning for both teams, the Reds got it started on the top of the second. Recently called up Nick Martini hit his first home run since August of 2019 to give the Reds the lead. After a double and walk, Pfaadt was able to settle down and get out of the inning with the only the one run. Reds 1, Diamondbacks 0.
Reds Stop a Rally
In the bottom of the third, after Jace Peterson struck out and Geraldo Perdomo walked, Corbin Carroll struck out on a foul tip, but Perdomo stole second base. Ketel Marte walked before Green threw a wild pitch, putting Perdomo on third and Marte at second. However, Tommy Pham grounded out to end the inning. Reds 1, Diamondbacks 0.
Diamondbacks Bats Come Alive
In the bottom of the fourth, the Diamondbacks’ bats came alive. After Christian Walker flied to right, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled on a sharp line drive to center field. Alek Thomas lined a single to right, scoring Gurriel while advancing to second on the throw home. After Gabriel Moreno walked, Peterson tripled. Thomas and Moreno both scored to put the Diamondbacks up, 3–1.
Perdomo lined into the second out, but Carroll and Marte walked to load the bases. Pham — who was looking to extend his hitting streak — hit a sharp single to left, plating Peterson and Carroll.
The Reds brought in Derek Law, who wild-pitched Marte to third. A walk to Walker loaded the bases, but Gurriel struck out to end the inning. Diamondbacks 5, Reds 1.
Reds Charge Back
In the top of the sixth, the Reds came charging back. After TJ Friedl was called out on strikes, Matt McLain singled. The Diamondbacks made a pitching change, bringing in Bryce Jarvis. Elly De La Cruz singled on a soft bunt to Jarvis, advancing McLain to second.
After Steer lined out, Martini hit his second home run of the night, scoring McLain and De La Cruz. The inning ended on a Christian Encarnacion-Strand ground out. Diamondbacks 5, Reds 4.
Arizona Counters Back
Perdomo and Carroll both walked to start the bottom of the sixth. Marte hit a fly for the first out, followed by Pham being hit by a pitch to load the bases. Walker popped out for the second out to De La Cruz in shallow left on the infield fly rule. However, a collision knocked De La Cruz to the ground. Perdomo alertly bolted for home, scoring on a throwing error by De La Cruz, who had to hurry the throw after rushing to his feet. Gurriel struck out swinging, but catcher Luke Maile didn’t catch it and had to make a quick throw to first base to get the final out. Diamondbacks 6, Reds 4.
Another Wild Inning
In the bottom of the seventh, the Diamondbacks added two more runs on some wild plays. Thomas and Moreno singled before Peterson sacrificed Thomas to third and Moreno to second with a bunt.
Perdomo singled on a ground ball to second baseman Matt McLain, but it was deflected by first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Thomas scored and Moreno advanced to third on the play. Carroll walked to load the bases for Marte, who hit a sacrifice fly to right and scored Moreno.
With two outs, Tommy Pham hit a fly ball to left field that could have been a home run. Steer leapt at the wall to attempt a catch. He landed on the seat of his pants with a juvenile fan holding up the ball in triumph. Initially, the umpires ruled it as a home run. But a crew chief review changed the ruling to fan interference and an inning-ending out, as the youth had reached over the fence to pull the ball out of Steer’s glove. Diamondbacks 8, Reds 4.
Diamondbacks Score Again
To lead off the bottom of the eighth, Walker was hit on the helmet by a pitch. After the trainers looked him over, he stayed in the game. Gurriel lined into the first out. Thomas grounded into a force out, third baseman to shortstop, retiring Walker at second, but Thomas beat out the relay to first.
Moreno hit his first triple of the season, scoring Thomas. Peterson followed up with his own triple, scoring Moreno. The inning ended when Perdomo flied to left. Diamondbacks 10, Reds 4.
Here Come the Reds
Justin Martinez came in to pitch the top of the ninth. He immediately gave up a single to Steer, who took second on defensive indifference. Martini ultimately walked. Martinez hit Encarnacion-Strand to load the bases for Will Benson who hit a grand slam home run to center field. Martinez was immediately replaced by Kevin Ginkel.
Ginkel struck out Stephenson as well as Friedl to end the three-hour, six-minute game. Final: Arizona 10, Cincinnati 8.
Torey Lovullo Speaks
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo spoke on Brandon Pfaadt’s first win. “He has been throwing the ball well enough to get wins. We just haven’t given him a lot of run support, but today was the day,” Lovullo said. He added that Pfaadt might have had some pitches left but appeared to be getting tired. As far as the relievers, Lovullo said “things got right and then, unfortunately, didn’t get right there in the ninth, then Kevin Ginkel came in to save us and save the ballgame.”
Offensively, Lovullo said it was “one thing after another” with a lot of baserunners, traffic, clutch hitting, and heady baserunning. He concluded his offense report by saying they have to “turn the page and be ready for Game Three” against a “very good Reds team” on Saturday.
Lovullo also specifically praised Peterson for his two triples, saying it had been a long time coming for Peterson, who has been “working his (tail) off” for it.
Diamondbacks Notes
The Diamondbacks .991 fielding percentage and 42 errors are the best in the majors. Those 42 errors are the fewest in franchise history through the first 128 games of a season. The current franchise low for errors in a full season (excluding 2020) is 75 in 2013 and 2018. The Diamondbacks 12 wins this season when facing a one or more-run deficit in the eighth inning or later also leads the majors.
Reds Notes
The Reds had a season-high 11 rookies on Friday’s roster, the most for any team in the majors. Fourteen of the teams’ players have made their major league debut this season, most for any team. In addition, 21 rookies have played in at least one game for Cincinnati, which also leads the majors.
Looking Ahead
Saturday is Corbin Carroll bobblehead giveaway to the first 15k fans. Arizona will have Zac Davies back. He is 1-6 with a 7.38 ERA, and he will go up against Hunter Greene (2-5, 4.72 ERA). Game time is 5:10.
Sunday will see Slade Cecconi start for Arizona (0-0, 2.93 ERA), while Cincinnati will send Graham Ashcraft to the hill (7-8, 4.84 ERA). Game time is 1:10 pm. All games are Arizona (Mountain Standard) Time.
