While all losses count the same in the standings, some hurt a little more than others. We can only assume that Friday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays stung more than the average loss for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
With the score tied 4-4, Tampa’s Brandon Lowe came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Jonny DeLuca represented the potential winning run on first base. Lowe sent the 1-1 offering from Arizona’s Justin Martinez back up the middle. The ball hit off the pitcher’s mound and, while second baseman Blaze Alexander got a glove on the ball, he couldn’t quite bring it in and the ball rolled into center field. That seemingly set up a first-and-third situation and while that wouldn’t ideal for the Diamondbacks, Martinez would only need to get one more out to send the game into extra innings. Only, it never got to that point.
Arizona’s Jake McCarthy tried to scoop the ball with his glove but overran it. DeLuca, who had briefly stopped at third base, sprinted for home. McCarthy retreated to get the ball and while he ended up making a decent throw in, it was well behind DeLuca, who slid in safely to win the game.
Rays get a walk-off win over the Diamondbacks.
A big assist goes to the Arizona defense. pic.twitter.com/IIdboRty1l
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) August 17, 2024
In contrast, the top half of the inning went remarkably well for Arizona. With two outs and a runner on, Corbin Carroll was down to his final strike. But he drilled the 1-2 offering into the seats for a game-tying home run.
CORBIN CLUTCH. 😤 pic.twitter.com/7V7qFJk8rw
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 17, 2024
Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, that only set them up for a walk-off loss on a play that was every bit as frustrating as Carroll’s home run was exciting.
