Ketel Marte's 1st-inning homer and a dominant bullpen led the D-backs to a 4-1 win over the White Sox on June 25. See how Arizona keeps its momentum rolling.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another day, another win for the surging Arizona Diamondbacks. Behind a first-inning blast from their All-Star hopeful Ketel Marte and a lights-out performance from the bullpen, the D-backs secured a convincing 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. The win marks their fifth in the last six games, pushing their record to 41-38 as the team continues to build serious momentum.
The Diamondbacks bullpen combined for four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk to shut the door on the White Sox.
You can't start a game much better than this. Ketel Marte, the leading NL All-Star vote-getter at second base, wasted no time making his presence felt, launching his 14th home run of the season in the very first inning. The solo shot gave Arizona a lead they would never relinquish. While he finished the day 1-for-4, that one swing was a powerful reminder of why he's a fan favorite and a frontrunner for the Midsummer Classic. Every big hit further solidifies his case.
Starter Ryne Nelson was solid, giving the team five strong innings with seven strikeouts while allowing just one run. But the story of the night was the bullpen's absolute dominance. The trio of Ryan Thompson, Jalen Beeks, and Shelby Miller slammed the door shut. Thompson earned the win with 1.2 scoreless frames, Beeks navigated a tricky seventh, and Miller was perfect in the ninth to lock down his ninth save of the season. When the bullpen is dealing like this, the D-backs are a tough team to beat.
Clinging to a narrow lead for much of the game, the D-backs offense broke it open in the seventh inning. The rally was a perfect example of manufacturing runs. Alek Thomas and Geraldo Perdomo came through with clutch RBI singles, and Gabriel Moreno added another run with a sacrifice fly. This three-run burst provided the cushion the bullpen needed and showcased the depth of this lineup.
While the on-field action was hot, things were quiet on the transaction wire, with no new roster moves reported on Wednesday. The front office's attention is currently split, with a heavy focus on the ongoing MLB Draft Combine. Scouts are busy evaluating the next wave of talent that could one day be contributing to wins like this one in Chicago.
With the series win already in hand, the Diamondbacks have a golden opportunity to complete the sweep in Wednesday's afternoon finale. Ace Zac Gallen will take the mound against Chicago's Sean Burke. Can the D-backs make it six wins in seven games and head home on a high? All signs point to a team firing on all cylinders.
