Josh Naylor's walk-off grand slam gives the D-backs an 8-4 win over the Mariners on June 10, but an injury to closer Justin Martinez casts a shadow on the victory.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
What a difference an inning makes. Diamondbacks fans experienced a full season's worth of emotional whiplash on Monday night, from the despair of a blown ninth-inning lead and an injury to closer Justin Martinez, to the pure euphoria of an 11th-inning, walk-off grand slam from Josh Naylor. The 8-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners snapped a three-game skid, but the celebration is tempered by a nervous wait for news on their dominant closer.
One swing of the bat from Josh Naylor washed away a blown lead, an injury scare, and a three-game losing streak, delivering one of the most memorable wins of the season.
For eight innings, it was a textbook D-backs win. Corbin Carroll kicked things off with a leadoff homer, and Merrill Kelly was masterful, tossing six shutout innings. The team built a comfortable 4-0 lead heading into the ninth. Justin Martinez came on to close it out and looked untouchable, striking out Jorge Polanco and Randy Arozarena with ease. Then, disaster struck. After a walk, Martinez felt tightness in his pitching elbow and was immediately removed from the game, leaving a stunned Chase Field crowd in silence. The bullpen couldn't stop the bleeding, as Jeff Brigham surrendered four runs to let Seattle tie the game and force extras.
After the gut-punch of the ninth, the D-backs could have easily folded. But this team showed its fight. They battled through a scoreless tenth before loading the bases in the bottom of the 11th inning. That brought Josh Naylor to the plate, who promptly sent a ball flying into the night sky for a game-ending grand slam. The dugout erupted, and a game that felt lost was suddenly, spectacularly won. It was a massive moment for Naylor and a crucial character-building victory for a team that desperately needed one, improving their record to 31-34.
The celebration can't last long. All eyes now turn to the health of Justin Martinez's elbow. His absence, for any length of time, would be a massive blow to the back end of the bullpen. While the team awaits an update, they have to quickly refocus for Tuesday's game. Brandon Pfaadt (7-4, 5.51 ERA) gets the start, hoping to build on the momentum from Monday's wild win. He'll face a tough challenge in Seattle's Bryan Woo (5-3, 3.07 ERA). Despite the dramatic victory, prediction models still have the D-backs as slight underdogs, a reminder that they'll need to bring their A-game to secure a series win.
Monday's win was a powerful reminder of baseball's capacity for drama. It was a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat, but it came at a potential cost. As the D-backs prepare to face the Mariners again on Tuesday, the fanbase holds its collective breath, celebrating a massive win while anxiously awaiting news on their closer. Tonight's game is no longer just the second game of a series; it's a test of this team's resilience in the face of adversity.
