Monday night at the MLBthe Arizona Rattlers staged a remarkable comeback against the Washington Nationals, securing a dramatic 9-8 victory.
Trailing 8-4 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Rattlers mounted a five-run comeback, with Corbin Carroll delivering the winning blow: a two-run home run with one out in the ninth.
Ninth Crucial Entry
The ninth inning was marked by crucial moments that contributed to the Rattlers' win. Geraldo Perdomo opened with an RBI single to center field, allowing Alek Thomas to score and cut the Nationals' lead to 8-5.
Ketel Marte then hit a two-run home run down the right field line against Nationals All-Star closer Kyle Finnegan, cutting the deficit to 8-7 and setting the stage for Carroll's decisive play.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also played a crucial role with a single up the middle, increasing the pressure on Finnegan.
Carroll, who had struggled all season, faced Finnegan and connected on a splitter over the right-center field fence, completing the Rattlers' comeback and setting off a wild celebration among the team and its fans.
Finnegan, who had been charged with closing the game, faced a challenging ninth inning. Despite retiring Gabriel Moreno for the first out, he allowed a single to Gurriel Jr. that set up Carroll's winning home run.
This was Finnegan's fifth failed save in 33 attempts. He expressed frustration at his inability to finish batters despite being ahead in the counts.
The Nationals initially built a commanding lead, going ahead 5-0 in the first inning. Alex Call made a notable contribution with a three-run home run to left field, his first home run of the season.
Promoted from Triple-A Rochester just a day earlier, Call made an immediate impact. James Wood and Keibert Ruiz also added RBI hits, while Harold Ramirez extended the lead to 6-0 in the second inning with another RBI single. Overall, Call, Ruiz, Ramirez, Juan Yepez, Ildemaro Vargas and Jacob Young each had two hits in the game.
Rattlesnakes mount a comeback
The Rattlers responded to the early deficit with determined efforts to close the gap. They managed to score a run in the fourth and fifth inning, putting the score at 6-2. Newman contributed significantly with two hits, including an RBI double.
However, Rattlers pitcher Jordan Montgomery had a rough outing, allowing six runs on nine hits over four innings. He gave up three walks and struck out just one, struggling to meet the expectations set by his one-year, $25 million contract. His effectiveness has now increased to 6.51 for the season.
Mitchell Parker, pitching for the Nationals, allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three. This performance marked a rebound from two previous rough starts, where he had allowed a total of 11 clean runs in just 3 2/3 innings.
Joe Mantiply, pitching for the Rattlers, picked up the win by delivering a runless ninth inning and securing the dramatic victory for his team.
In roster moves, the Rattlers recalled right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi and sent right-handed pitcher Yilber Diaz to Triple-A Reno. Diaz, who had a solid 4.05 ERA in four starts, was moved to make room for the impending return of RHP Merrill Kelly and LHP Eduardo Rodriguez from the injured list. Cecconi is expected to be used in the bullpen.
Injury news also surfaced, as Rattlers first baseman Christian Walker left the game in the fourth inning due to a left oblique strain. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo indicated that Walker would undergo tests to determine if he would need to be placed on the injured list.
That one's gonna be hard to forget anytime soon. pic.twitter.com/MQ4v68XlYU
- Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 30, 2024
Movements and Rotations
For the Nationals, a recent trade involved starting outfielder Lane Thomas, who was traded to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for three prospects.
Thomas, who was batting .253 with eight home runs and 28 stolen bases, was traded as part of a roster shakeup indicative of the Nationals' declining position in the National League playoff race.
Now the Rattlers are set to start right-handed pitcher Ryne Nelson, who has a 7-6 record and a 4.85 ERA, in their next game. The Nationals will respond with left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin, who has a 2-10 record and a 5.26 ERA.
