Diamondbacks 6 Guardians 3
PHOENIX, June 17 — The Arizona Diamondbacks got late-inning home runs to defeat the Cleveland Guardians, 6-3. In Game Two of the three-game weekend series, the Diamondbacks continued their homestand with the Guardians. Shane Bieber went up against Tommy Henry. The 25,471 fans saw an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel until the bottom of the eighth when Jake McCarthy hit a solo home run and Corbin Carroll hit a two-run home run. Also, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. broke out of a 1-29 slump with a home run to give the Diamondbacks a 6-3 win.
Start the Game
Henry gave up singles to Steven Kwan and Amed Rosario. After getting Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor on fly outs; he walked Josh Bell to load the bases. Henry followed that up with another walk, this time to Andres Gimenez. Kwan scored, but Henry got the final out on a swinging strikeout by Myles Straw. Guardians 1, Diamondbacks 0.
Andres Gimenez
After getting two outs, Henry gave up a solo home run to Gimenez. The ball had an exit velocity of 102 mph, a distance of 401 ft, and a launch angle of 33 deg. Henry was able to get out of the inning with only that run. Guardians 2, Diamondbacks 0.
Diamondbacks get on Board
In the bottom the fourth, Ketel Marte before Corbin Carroll grounded to first. The throw to second in an attempt for a reverse double play was not in time. Christian Walker followed with a two-run home run to right field to tie the game. The ball had an exit velocity of 104.7 mph, a distance of 380 ft, and a launch angle of 24 deg. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. grounded out, and Pavin Smith was out on strikes to end the inning. Diamondbacks 2, Guardians 2.
Henry’s Quality Start
Joe Mantiply relieved Henry in the top of the seventh after Henry spun a quality start. His final numbers were 88 pitches thrown with 60 of them strikes. He also allowed seven hits with two earned runs, two walks, and three strikeouts.
Mantiply/Miguel Castro
Mantiply pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings and received some help in the top of the eighth on an over-turned call. Bell walked and was replaced by Tyler Freeman. Gimenez hit a ground ball to Walker, who threw to Perdomo to get Freeman before relaying back to Walker. Gimenez was called safe. The Diamondbacks challenged, and the call was overturned. Miguel Castro replaced Mantiply and got Straw to ground out to end the inning.
Diamondbacks take the Lead
In the bottom of the eighth with Bieber still pitching, Jake McCarthy hit a home run to center field to give the Diamondbacks the lead. The home run had an exit velocity of 99.5 mph, a distance of 397 ft, and a launch angle of 28 deg.
Perdomo was out on strikes before Marte singled. Bieber was replaced after Corbin Carroll hit a two-run home run, Carroll rounding the bases to the chants of MVP. That home run had an exit velocity of 110.1 mph, a distance of 426 ft, and a launch angle of 25 deg.
Nick Sandlin came in to get the final two outs and close out the inning but not before giving up a home run to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. That home run had an exit velocity of 94.1 mph, a distance of 361 ft, and a launch angle of 28 deg. Diamondbacks 6, Guardians 2.
Top of the Ninth
Kyle Nelson came in to pitch the ninth and walked Gabriel Arias. After a visit from pitching coach Brent Strom, he got pinch-hitter David Fry to strike out swinging. Kwan singled to center field, putting Arias at second. Scott McGough came in to pitch and coughed up a single to Amed Rosario.
But McGough got Ramirez, up next, on a sacrifice fly to center for the second out, scoring Arias, and a ground out to end the game and get the save. Final Score: Diamondbacks 6, Guardians 3.
Diamondbacks Manager Speaks
Manager Torey Lovullo addressed the media after the game and said, “Tommy Henry was exceptional. His slider was fantastic and did a lot of things right.” Lovullo pointed to a key rally-sparking moment, saying, “Walker’s two run home run ignited the dugout in the fourth.” On his team’s scoring, he said, “We scored all of our runs via the home run” and added, “Nice to see Gurriel Jr. get the home run, and it was nice to see him smile again.” The dugout heard what came from the crowd on the Carroll roundtripper. Lovullo confirmed, “Yes, we heard the MVP chants. It shows the fans are engaged (after) we have had some lean years here.”
Shane Bieber Speaks
Guardians starter Shane Bieber spoke to the media and said, “Everything was working. I felt good. … We just need to bounce back tomorrow.” Manager Terry Francona added, “He pitched his heart out and the line is not going to show that. … Christian Walker has just tormented us.”
Diamondbacks Notes
The Diamondbacks’ .667 interleague win percentage (10–5) is the fifth-highest in the majors. … Geraldo Perdomo, in three games as the leadoff hitter this season, is hitting .583 (7-for-12) and has reached base safely in 12 of 13 games. … Corbin Carroll is 1 of only 3 players in the majors to rank in the Top 10 in average, slugging pct., and OPS.
Diamondbacks quality starts: Zac Gallen 9 (15 games started), Merrill Kelly 9 (14 games started), Tommy Henry 4 (10 games started), Ryne Nelson 3 (14 games started), Zach Davies 1 (6 games started).
Guardians Notes
The Guardians will rely on Bieber, Aaron Civale, and a number of young pitchers moving forward, with Triston McKenzie joining Cal Quantrill on the injured list. McKenzie is expected to be moved to the 60-day IL.
Looking Ahead
The Diamondbacks close out their homestand on Father’s Day Sunday. Scheduled to start is Zach Davies, who is 1-2 with a 5.46 ERA. He goes up against Tanner Bibee, who is 2-2 with a 3.91 ERA. Game time is 1:10pm and will be on Bally Sports Arizona.
