Record: 37-35. Pace: 83-79. Change on 2025: +1.
Ryne Nelson’s strong series of outings at Chase Field continued, as he pitched seven innings of two-run ball. The D-backs used some smart base-running to keep in touch, then Pavin Smith’s first home-run since his two-homer game in Chicago, almost a year ago (June 23rd), gave them a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Geraldo Perdomo tacked on what would turn out to be a crucial insurance run. For Paul Sewald made it a little interesting in the ninth, allowing a solo home-run before locking down his 18th
save. Mason Miller is the only pitcher in the National League with more.
But let’s talk about strikeouts. Nelson struck out a modest five of the 29 batters he faced tonight. However, that was still the most he had fanned in a start for more than a month (May 13), ending a streak of five consecutive games with three or fewer strikeouts. That’s not common. In the past fifteen years, there have only been a pair of D-backs starter with a longer run. Randall Delgado had six in a row, but he was more of an extended opener: those came over more than three years, from 2014-17, and he never threw more than four innings. The other was Mike Leake in 2019, who had just 15 K’s over seven starts, from August 6 through September 8.
Though in franchise history, the most “impressive” such streak likely belongs to Armando Reynoso in 1999. He had eight games where he struck out just 19, and walked more than that (22). However, he averaged an out into the seventh inning, had an ERA of 3.18 and was undefeated over those eight outings, going 3-0. The record by a Diamondback, incidentally, belongs to Brian Anderson, who went 13 starts in a row without more than three K’s, in 2001-02. He got just one win there – in part because he allowed getting on for as many home-runs (18) as strikeouts (26). More on the team’s K-shortage in tomorrow’s GDT, I think.
Nelson ended up scattering nine hits, but key was that he didn’t walk any batters. He was also efficient, and that allowed him to get through seven innings for the fifth time in his last seven appearances. It was also his fifth quality start in a row at Chase Field, over which time he has thrown 35.2 innings and allowed nine earned runs, an ERA of 2.27. I’m pleased to report his next outing will also be here in Arizona, on Sunday against the Twins. The two runs tonight were both scored by Mike Trout, playing only his third game at Chase in an Angels jersey. He has played more often here in the colors of Team USA.
As mentioned, a couple of nice moves on the basepaths were key in scoring both of Arizona’s runs. In the bottom of the first, after the Angels had taken a 1-0 lead, Perdomo walked with one out. Corbin Carroll then popped one foul down the first-base line and the Angels 1B and RF got tangled up. While the catch was made, by the time they were able to get the ball in, Perdomo had taken both second and third (above). Not often you see someone take two bases on a 219 ft. fly-ball out. It paid off immediately, Perdomo able to tie things up on Gabriel Moreno’s infield single, on a throw from third that pulled the Angels’ first-baseman off the bag.
Arizona then took the lead in the fourth, with another first-to-third move critical in the build-up. Here, it was Carroll, who singled to lead off the inning, stole second, and took an extra ninety feet as the throw down skittered into the outfield. One out later, a little bloop single from Lourdes Gurriel, in his return from the IL, brought Carroll home, to give the Diamondbacks a 2-1 lead. The visitors tied it up quickly though, Trout hammering his 16th of the season. But, hey: what’s a Ryne Nelson game without a solo home-run? There matters stayed until the bottom of the seventh inning.
That proved a veritable roller-coaster of emotions. Jordan Lawlar took a pitch off his thigh to get on base as the lead-off man in a tied game. Hooray! But he was then immediately picked off, a decision which just about survived a review (upheld – had he been called safe, that would likely have been upheld too). Boo! But Smith then turned on a change-up – to be fair, not a bad pitch, right on the inside edge of the strike-zone – and was just able to keep it fair down the line, clanging off the pole in right field for his first homer of 2026 (above). Hooray! He also singled. I was able to toast marshmallows powered only by the incandescent rage on social media.
A little two-out magic followed, courtesy of a Ketel Marte single, and a Perdomo double into the left-center gap, for a 4-2 lead. Jonathan Loasiga worked a very quick eighth inning, needing only eight pitches, and Sewald looked like he might also go 1-2-3, before a two-out blast brought the tying run for the Angels to the plate. A swinging strikeout ended the threat, and the D-backs moved two games above .500. As mentioned, Smith had two hits, and Perdomo reached base three times, walking twice in addition to his RBI double. It moves Arizona just one-half game back of the three-way tied for the last NL wild-card spot, currently shared by Chicago, San Diego and… Washington?
Click here for details, at Fangraphs.com
For I would walk: Pavin Smith, +24%
500 Miles: Nelson, +21%; Perdomo, +14%
Sweet Caroline: Jordan Lawlar, -8%
A very enjoyable Gameday Thread, reaching over 330 comments. I particularly enjoyed the discussion on D-backs themed jigsaw puzzles. No, seriously. But comment of the Thread to gzimmerm:
They do say that every time you go to a baseball game, you might see something that has never happened before. This would be that. Tomorrow, it’s the same two teams at Chase, with another 6:40 pm first pitch, and Merrill Kelly on the mound for the Diamondbacks.
