The Arizona Diamondbacks squandered a four-home run night for Eugenio Suarez — the second in franchise history — and lost a four-run lead, falling to the Atlanta Braves 8-7 in 10 innings on April 26 at Chase Field.
It was the Diamondbacks’ fourth straight loss, their longest losing streak of the season, and within that winless run was their third loss in extra innings.
Suarez lined his fourth home run of the night to lead off the bottom of the ninth, tying the game at 7 and forcing extra innings. But the Diamondbacks couldn’t come up with another run in the bottom of the 10th after the Braves scored on reliever Justin Martinez, whose wild pitch allowed Matt Olson to score for Atlanta.
Martinez (1-1) took the loss.
The largest crowd since Opening Day, 43,043, saw the Diamondbacks (14-13) build a 6-2 lead with Suarez’s seventh, eighth and ninth home runs of the season. But Arizona’s frontline relievers couldn’t hold the advantage, and deep fly ball that got beyond center fielder Alek Thomas in the eighth inning gave the Braves tying and go-ahead runs.
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Starting pitcher Merrill Kelly threw six innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Then right-hander Ryan Thompson relieved Kelly and gave up a two-run home run off the foul pole in left field to Atlanta’s Eli White in the seventh.
Still, the Diamondbacks led 6-4 through seven innings.
Left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks, who had not been scored upon in his previous 10 outings, got the first two outs of the eighth before allowing two walks and a single to make the score 6-5. Then Michael Harris hit a ball over Thomas’ head for a two-run double before Beeks got the final out.
Drey Jameson pitched the ninth inning for the Diamondbacks and loaded the bases with one out on three walks. But he got Olson to ground into an inning-ending double play on a ball that took a difficult bounce into second baseman Tim Tawa’s chest.
In the bottom of the ninth, Suarez led off to chants of his name from the crowd. His home run was scorched to left field, and the crowd went wild. He joined J.D. Martinez (Sept. 4, 2017) as the only Diamondbacks ever to hit four home runs in a game.
The bottom of the 10th began with Tawa on second base, and he took third on Corbin Carroll’s ground out. Geraldo Perdomo grounded out to shortstop with a drawn-in Braves infield, and pinch hitter Randal Grichuk hit a ground ball wide of third base.
Grichuk was called safe on the throw to first, but Atlanta challenged the call. Replays showed Grichuk was out, and the call was overturned to end the game.
Corbin Carroll’s streak of reaching base in 21 consecutive home games came to an end with an 0-for-5 night, but he made a sliding catch to take a hit away in the seventh.
Eugenio Suarez re-discovers home run swing
In a game full of highlights through five innings, the Diamondbacks lead the Atlanta Braves 5-2 on April 26, after trailing 2-0 earlier in the game.
Eugenio Suarez hit a solo home run in the second inning and a two-run shot in the fourth, part of a four-run fourth inning for the Diamondbacks. Gabriel Moreno drove in two runs with a single on a 3-2 pitch before Suarez came up to bat.
Suarez also had a funny moment in the game when he caught Matt Olson’s foul pop-up on the run, and his momentum carried him down the dugout steps with ball in glove for the third out. Suarez didn’t stumble and looked graceful managing the stairs.
The Braves have hit a pair of home runs off Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly. The first, by Marcell Ozuna, landed in the second deck in left field. The second saw Diamondbacks left fielder Jorge Barrosa jumping at the wall to try to catch Sean Murphy’s deep drive in the second inning, only to lose the ball with his glove in the first row of seats.
A fan handed Barrosa’s glove back to center fielder Alek Thomas.
Suarez has four of his eight home runs this season in April. It’s his second two-home run game of the season.
On the defensive side, second baseman Tim Tawa has provided some good glove work. He dived to his left in the third inning to rob Olson of a base hit, throwing out Olson at first to end the inning. In the fourth, he went far to his right to flag down a grounder up the middle from Ozzie Albies, and in motion, flipped the ball to shortstop Geraldo Perdomo for a force out.
The Diamondbacks are trying to end a three-game losing streak.
-Jose M. Romero
Ketel Marte’s big day of rehab work
Rehabbing second baseman Ketel Marte blasted a pair of home runs and hit another ball off the wall during an extended spring training game on Saturday at Salt River Fields, manager Torey Lovullo said, the latest encouraging step in his return from a left hamstring strain.
“He had a super day offensively,” Lovullo said.
Lovullo said a return during the upcoming Mets series in New York would be “a little bit too soon,” but he did not rule out the idea of Marte joining the team when it moves to Philadelphia next weekend.
On Saturday, Marte ran out of the batter’s box and ran the bases like normal. He also played defensively at second base. Lovullo said he expects Marte would split time between second and designated hitter in the near term upon his return.
Lovullo said Marte’s performance on Saturday falls in line with the way he has been hitting in recent days on the backfields.
“It’s almost like he’s playing a video game,” Lovullo said. “He’s been hitting a home run, like, every at-bat.”
Still, the club wants to be careful not to rush him back
“We’re hoping to get him back as soon as possible,” Lovullo said. “We know what’s there. But his health is the most important thing. He’s trending in a very, very positive direction.”
Right-hander Kevin Ginkel is scheduled to make his second appearance for Triple-A Reno on Saturday. If all goes well, he could be with the team for the opener of their series in New York on Tuesday.
Right-hander Kendall Graveman threw 22 pitches in an extended spring training game on Saturday, facing six batters and striking out three, Lovullo said. He added that Graveman’s fastball topped out “somewhere in the (94-95 mph range).”
Graveman, who did not appear in a spring training game due to back issues, likely needs at least another outing in extended before heading out on a rehab assignment, Lovullo said, adding that Graveman is probably 10 days to two weeks behind Ginkel.
Braves at Diamondbacks, 5:10 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (3-1, 4.73) vs. Braves RHP Grant Holmes (2-1, 3.22).
At Chase Field: Kelly turned in a strong start against the Cubs last weekend at Wrigley Field, working around two rain delays to go 5 2/3 innings and give up just one run. He exited early, however, due to leg cramps, a recurring issue for him over the past few seasons. … Kelly owns a 3.67 ERA in four career starts against the Braves. … He has solid career numbers against most Braves hitters, though 3B Austin Riley is 4 for 9 with a homer off him. … Holmes split time last season between starting and relieving, but he has started in four of his five appearances so far this season, posting a 3.38 ERA in those games. … He gave up one run in 5 2/3 innings against the Twins in his most recent start. … Holmes, 29, features a 94.5 mph fastball. He primarily complements that with a slider and curveball and occasionally throws a cutter, as well.
Coming up
Sunday, April 27: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (4-1, 2.73) vs. Braves RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (1-1, 2.56).
Monday, April 28: Off.
Tuesday, April 29: At New York, 4:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-2, 4.40) vs. Mets LHP David Peterson (1-1, 3.29).
Wednesday, April 30: At New York, 4:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Corbin Burnes (0-1, 4.05) vs. Mets RHP Kodai Senga (3-1, 0.79).
