The Diamondbacks fell to the Tigers 1-0 on July 28, 2025, as a Spencer Torkelson RBI was enough to silence Arizona's bats. Can the D-backs snap their slump?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of frustration in the Motor City. The Arizona Diamondbacks' pitching did just about everything you could ask for, but the offense simply couldn't find a spark, falling 1-0 to the Detroit Tigers in the series opener. A lone RBI from Spencer Torkelson was the difference-maker in a game that saw Arizona's bats go quiet, dropping the team's record to 51-56 and deepening a late-July slump.
The only run of the game was driven in by Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Arizona's offense was stifled, managing just a handful of hits.
The script is becoming painfully familiar for Diamondbacks fans. The pitching staff battled all night at Comerica Park, keeping the Tigers lineup in check. But one run was one too many. The offense couldn't solve Detroit's pitching, scattering just a few hits. Corbin Carroll managed a single in his only official at-bat, but other key contributors were silenced. Even Ketel Marte, playing while still on the restricted list for personal reasons, was held hitless, unable to provide his usual spark. The loss marks the third straight for the D-backs, a worrying trend as they try to stay afloat in the standings.
The front office is clearly trying to find a solution, making moves on the margins. Lefty Brandyn Garcia was recalled from Triple-A Reno to bolster a bullpen that saw struggling righty Trevor Richards designated for assignment. But the bigger issues remain the absences of key players. All-Star Ketel Marte continues to deal with the aftermath of a home burglary, and while his return is expected soon, his presence is sorely missed. Meanwhile, catcher Gabriel Moreno's recovery from a fractured hand has been slower than hoped, with his timeline to return from the 60-day IL still uncertain. These gaps in the lineup are putting immense pressure on the rest of the roster.
If there's a silver lining to the injury woes, it's the emergence of Adrian Del Castillo. Called up from Reno to fill the void left by Moreno, the young catcher is making a strong case for an extended stay. He was tearing up Triple-A pitching, slashing an impressive .288/.386/.559 with a .945 OPS. His performance, highlighted by a monster 4-for-5, two-homer game earlier in July, shows the kind of offensive potential the D-backs desperately need right now. While fans are eager for Moreno's return, Del Castillo's hot bat is a welcome development.
As the Diamondbacks look to the next two games in Detroit, the mission is simple: wake up the bats. Another strong pitching performance was wasted Monday, and the team can't afford to let that become the norm. With the season now well past the halfway mark, the D-backs need to halt this losing streak and find their offensive identity, or they risk watching their postseason hopes fade away in the summer heat.
