The 10th-Inning Decider
The game’s decisive moment arrived in the top of the 10th inning when Moreno singled to center field. The hit allowed Vargas to score, giving the Arizona Diamondbacks a 4-3 lead over the Houston Astros. This single run proved to be the difference in a contest that stretched into extra innings at Daikin Park.
Early Momentum Shifts
The Astros built an early cushion in the bottom of the third inning. Paredes singled to right field, driving in Diaz and Trammell to make it 0-2. The visitors chipped away at the deficit in the fifth, with Perdomo’s sacrifice fly to center bringing in Tawa to cut the lead to 1-2.
Houston regained the one-run advantage shortly after when Paredes reached on an infield single to second, scoring Peña and moving Alvarez to third. The score stood at 1-3 after five frames.
The Tie and The Walk-Off
Arizona tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Nootbaar doubled to right field, allowing Tawa to cross the plate and Waldschmidt to reach third. The Astros responded in the top of the eighth when Marte homered to right field, a 388-foot shot that brought the score to 3-3.
The game remained deadlocked until the 10th, when Moreno’s single secured the win for the visitors.
Pitching and Records
Brandon Pfaadt started for Arizona, pitching 6.1 innings while allowing seven hits, three earned runs, two walks, and striking out four. Kevin Ginkel pitched 0.2 innings with no hits, no earned runs, no walks, and one strikeout. Juan Morillo pitched 1.0 inning, allowing one hit, no earned runs, no walks, and recording one strikeout.
Jonathan Loaisiga pitched 1.0 inning, allowing one hit, no earned runs, no walks, and striking out two to earn the win. Brandyn Garcia pitched 1.0 inning, allowing no hits, no earned runs, no walks, and striking out two to record the save.
For Houston, Ethan Pecko started, pitching 4.1 innings with five hits, one earned run, one walk, and two strikeouts. Enyel De Los Santos pitched 1.2 innings with no hits, no earned runs, no walks, and two strikeouts. Kai-Wei Teng pitched 0.1 inning, allowing no hits, one earned run, two walks, and one strikeout.
AJ Blubaugh pitched 1.2 innings, allowing two hits, one earned run, no walks, and two strikeouts. Josh Hader pitched 1.0 inning with no hits, no earned runs, no walks, and one strikeout. Bryan King pitched 1.0 inning, allowing one hit, no earned runs, no walks, and no strikeouts, taking the loss.
The final score was Arizona 4, Houston 3. The Astros finished 73-70, and the Diamondbacks improved to 75-68.
Sources
https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401816819
