Ketel Marte's All-Star day and clutch homer weren't enough as the D-backs fell to the Giants 6-5 on July 3. Relive the ninth-inning heroics and extra-inning heartbreak.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day of incredible highs and gut-wrenching lows for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Just hours after Ketel Marte was deservedly named the National League's starting All-Star second baseman, he played the hero with a dramatic game-tying home run in the ninth inning. But the celebration was short-lived, as the San Francisco Giants ultimately walked it off in the 10th, handing the D-backs a bitter 6-5 loss in a game that bled into Thursday morning.
It's incredible. I was out for one month, but I just worked hard. I know what kind of talent I have. I just want to thank everybody.
Ketel Marte's day was one for the history books. He became the first Diamondback ever to win three fan elections for the All-Star Game, a remarkable achievement, especially considering he missed a month with a hamstring strain. He then put an exclamation point on the announcement in the bottom of the ninth. With the D-backs trailing by two, Marte crushed his 18th homer of the season, a two-run shot that sent Chase Field into a frenzy and tied the game. It was a signature moment from a player who is proving, once again, that he's one of the best in the game.
Despite Marte's heroics, the night ended in defeat. Starter Merrill Kelly battled through six innings, giving up three runs in a solid, if not dominant, outing. The offense showed signs of life beyond Marte, with Alek Thomas also homering and Geraldo Perdomo putting on a clinic at the plate, reaching base an incredible five times with three hits and two walks. But the bullpen couldn't slam the door, and a sacrifice fly by Patrick Bailey in the 10th inning proved to be the difference, leaving the D-backs with a tough pill to swallow.
The bullpen's struggle to secure the win underscored the front office's ongoing efforts to find the right mix on the pitching staff. In a move announced Thursday, the team signed right-hander Jake Woodford to a major league deal, hoping to add a fresh arm. To make room, lefty Kyle Nelson was designated for assignment. It's a tough break for Nelson, who has struggled mightily in Triple-A Reno with an 8.47 ERA while working his way back from Thoracic Outlet Surgery. The move signals that the team is actively seeking solutions for a bullpen that needs to be better down the stretch.
It was a night that perfectly encapsulated the highs and lows of a long baseball season. The sting of a divisional loss in extras hurts, no doubt, but the brilliance of Ketel Marte is a powerful reminder of the elite talent leading this team. With the All-Star break on the horizon, the D-backs need to shake off this heartbreaker, build on the positives like Perdomo's resurgence, and find the bullpen consistency that will turn these close losses into wins.
