Ketel Marte Powers Arizona to Comeback Win Over Rangers

The Diamondbacks even up the series against the Texas Rangers at Globe Field with a 3-2, come-from-behind win. Ketel Marte was the offensive hero, driving in the tying and winning runs of the game. His ninth-inning home run proved to be the difference.

"We've been playing a lot of good games," Marte told Jody Jackson on the DbacksTV broadcast after the game. "Last night, it's part of the game, something happened. Today we come back and we did the best out there, and we got the win."

Just before the blast from Marte, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo was tossed by home plate umpire Nate Tomlinson for arguing balls and strikes. Geraldo Perdomo took a Danny Coulombe cutter that appeared to miss below the strike zone, but took exception to Tomlinson ringing him up. It marked the third time an Arizona hitter was rung up on a pitch that appeared outside the zone.

"As a player, we never want the manager thrown out, but that's part of the game," said Marte. "Torey protects everybody and that's part of the game."

Down to his final strike of the frame, Marte got a sweeper in the lower-third of the strike zone and barreled it up 111.7 MPH to the second deck.

"I was looking for offspeed, and I was going to go out there and try to do my best for the team and get on the pitch and put my best swing."

With a 3-2 lead, rookie right-hander Juan Morillo pitched a clean ninth to secure his first career major league save. He got some help from Marte, who made a diving stop on a Josh Jung hard-hit grounder (101.4 MPH exit velocity).

The comeback would not have been possible without the Herculean effort from the D-backs' much-ballyhooed bullpen. Following a wobbly start from Anthony DeSclafani, facing a lot of traffic in three grueling innings, Arizona's relief corps stepped up for six shutout innings.

Jake Woodford pitched the bulk of it, delivering 10 critical outs in a one-run game. While it won't officially go in the books as a quality start, the combined effort of DeSclafani and Woodford essentially functioned as one. The pair combined for two runs allowed in 6.1 innings, allowing four hits, walking three, and striking out five. The D-backs have been successful at turning quality starts into wins this season, with a 35-11 record in those games.

Thanks to Woodford's efforts, the offense capitalized on a pair of defensive miscues to tie the game in the seventh. José Herrera singled on a comebacker to the mound and advanced to second when Rangers pitcher Robert Garcia made an ill-advised toss to first. Geraldo Perdomo reached on a fielding error by Josh Jung on a sacrifice bunt. Marte cashed in with his first hit on a well-placed grounder in the hole between first and second to tie the game.

Up to that point, the D-backs struggled to score against Jack Leiter. The only run they scored against the young fireballer was a solo home run by Blaze Alexander in the third. Alexander crushed his fourth home run of the month with a drive to left field. He's been setting a high bar in the eventual third base competition he'll have with Jordan Lawlar.

The D-backs will aim to win their third series in August. They'll face a familiar foe in Merrill Kelly, who pitched for Arizona in each of the past seven seasons. His co-ace in their 2023 postseason run, Zac Gallen, will also take the mound Wednesday. First pitch is set for 11:35 AM MST.