Marte and Montgomery lead the Diamondbacks past the Royals and even the series
Ketel Marte hit his second home run of the series into the right field pole at Kauffman Stadium in the fifth inning. With this two-run shot, the Diamondbacks increased their lead to four runs and won 6-1 against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
Centerfielder Corbin Carroll got the Diamondbacks offense rolling with a leadoff single in the first against Royals right-hander Alec Marsh. Later in the first, after Carroll scored on a sacrifice fly, Gabriel Moreno brought Marte and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in with a line drive single to center, giving them a three-run lead.
The Royals struck back in the first, with shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. continuing his hitting streak after narrowly missing the cycle in the Diamondbacks’ 10-4 loss to the Royals on Monday night.
Witt hit a single to bring home second baseman Garett Hampson, but Jordan Montgomery and four relievers allowed Kansas City just one run the rest of the game, ending Witt’s streak of four consecutive games with three or more hits.
Marsh settled down after the rocky first inning and didn’t let Arizona get close for the next three innings. At one point, he struck out four consecutive Diamondbacks batters, knocking out 10 of 11. But Geraldo Perdomo hit a double to start the fifth inning, and with one out left, Marte’s long hit decided the game.
Marsh, pitching for Arizona State, finished five innings, allowing five hits and five runs and striking out six players.
The Diamondbacks extended their lead to 6-1 in the eighth inning when Marte hit a single and later scored on an error by Freddy Fermin.
Montgomery did just enough for the Diamondbacks in his five innings pitched, allowing three hits and one run and striking out two players before leaving with a 5-1 lead. Right-handed pitcher Bryce Jarvis was also in good form, pitching two clean innings for the Diamondbacks, allowing no hits for the fourth straight game and striking out two players.
With their comeback win, the Diamondbacks even the series with the Royals and are two games over .500. The series finale will take place on Wednesday evening.
Pitching duel Diamondbacks-Royals on Wednesday
Diamondbacks at Royals, 5:10 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (7-6, 4.78) vs. Royals RHP Michael Wacha (7-6, 3.55).
At Kauffman Stadium: Nelson has been flipping the switch since the calendar turned to July. He appeared in four games this month, posting a 2.22 ERA after a rough June in which he was 2-2 with a 5.20 ERA… His most recent appearance was on July 19 in Chicago against the Cubs, in which he pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three hits, one run, two walks and nine strikeouts… The nine strikeouts were a career-high for Nelson… His overall ERA for the season is 4.78, but his ERA on the road dips to 3.58… In six of his last seven starts, Nelson has pitched five innings or more… In July, he increased his fastball usage by 13.5%… Wacha’s ERA for the season is 3.55, but his ERA at home is 2.96… Wacha last started on July 19 at home against the Chicago White Sox, pitching seven scoreless innings, striking out seven strikeouts and allowing just four hits… The 32-year-old threw 134 1/3 innings last season — his highest innings output since 2016 — with a 3.22 ERA while making 24 starts for San Diego… Wacha has started 17 games this season and has already pitched 96 1/3 innings… He has a 2-1 record with a 4.58 ERA in eight career starts against Arizona.
Soon
Thursday: Out of.
Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (7-5, 3.64) vs. Pirates RHP Luis Ortiz (5-2, 2.57).
Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks Brandon Pfaadt (4-6, 3.74) against Pirates LHP Marco Gonzales (1-1, 2.70).
Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Yilber Diaz (1-1, 5.40) vs. Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (10-5, 3.34)
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