Ketel Marte named All-Star starter, but Vinnie Pasquantino's 2 HRs lead Royals past Diamondbacks 9-3 on July 5, 2025. A day of highs and lows for Arizona.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day of conflicting emotions for Diamondbacks fans. On one hand, the exhilarating news that Ketel Marte was deservedly voted the National League's starting second baseman for the All-Star Game. On the other, the harsh reality of another frustrating loss, a 9-3 drubbing by the Kansas City Royals that extended the team's losing streak to three games and prompted a stern message from the manager.
This is unacceptable. We have to be better, and I expect us to turn this around.
Let's start with the good news, because it's a big one. For the third time in his incredible career, Ketel Marte will be a starter in the Midsummer Classic. His consistent, high-level performance earned him the nod from fans across the league. His teammates weren't surprised. 'He's a catalyst for us, day in and day out,' said pitcher Merrill Kelly. Pavin Smith put it even more bluntly, calling Marte's selection 'the biggest no-brainer in the world.' It's a massive, well-earned honor for a player who continues to be the engine of this team.
The celebration of Marte's achievement was quickly muted by the action on the field at Chase Park. Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino single-handedly dismantled the D-backs, launching two home runs and driving in a career-high six runs. He started the damage early with a three-run blast in the first and added a two-run shot in the fourth. Starter Eduardo Rodriguez had a night to forget, getting shelled for nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits in just 4.1 innings. The D-backs offense couldn't keep pace, mustering just three runs in front of a crowd of over 35,000.
One of the few bright spots offensively was Eugenio Suárez, who continued his impressive power display. He launched a solo shot in the sixth inning, marking his 28th home run of the season. Suárez also contributed a sacrifice fly earlier in the game. While the team struggles for consistency, Geno's bat remains a reliable source of thunder in the middle of the lineup.
Following the game, a visibly frustrated Torey Lovullo didn't mince words. Calling the team's recent performance 'unacceptable,' the manager pointed to sloppy fundamentals, including 10 walks and two errors committed during the losing streak. Lovullo's message was clear: the standard needs to be higher, and he expects an immediate response from his players. It's a public challenge to a team that seems to be in a mid-season funk.
The Diamondbacks find themselves at a crossroads. While they can celebrate the league-wide recognition of Ketel Marte's brilliance, they must also heed Torey Lovullo's urgent call for a turnaround. The talent is there, but the execution has been lacking. All eyes will be on Ryne Nelson as he takes the mound Saturday, tasked with being the stopper this team desperately needs to halt the skid and get back to winning baseball.
