The Arizona Diamondbacks staged an impressive comeback against the Milwaukee Brewers in the opening game of the Wild Card Series, prevailing with a 6-3 victory. Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte hit consecutive home runs off Corbin Burnes, and Gabriel Moreno added another homer to lead the Diamondbacks to victory.
This win was particularly significant for the Diamondbacks, marking their first playoff appearance since 2017 and breaking a streak of 14 consecutive postseason losses when trailing by at least three runs. Arizona’s resilience was on full display, as they had to battle to secure an NL wild card spot in the final days of the regular season.
Facing a 3-0 deficit with Burnes on the mound for the Brewers, the Diamondbacks showed patience at the plate, waiting for their opportunities. Carroll’s mammoth home run in the third inning kickstarted the rally, followed by Marte’s tying homer on the very next pitch. Moreno’s blast in the fourth inning gave Arizona the lead.
Manager Torey Lovullo credited Carroll’s homer as a turning point in the game, providing a boost of confidence for the team. In the field, third baseman Evan Longoria made a crucial defensive play, robbing Tyrone Taylor of a bases-loaded hit and converting it into a double play to protect the Diamondbacks’ lead.
The Diamondbacks’ bullpen, including Joe Mantiply, Miguel Castro, Ryne Nelson, Ryan Thompson, Kevin Ginkel, and Paul Sewald, combined for 6 1/3 innings of shutout relief, solidifying the team’s victory.
Despite Burnes initially appearing to have a pitching advantage for Game 1, his struggles allowed the Diamondbacks to capitalize on their regular-season experience against him. Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner, faltered after a strong start and eventually left the game after walking two batters in the fifth inning.
Evan Longoria’s crucial defensive play in the sixth inning, along with the overturned call, prevented the Brewers from tying the game and contributed to the Diamondbacks’ victory. With Game 2 on the horizon, the Diamondbacks are in a favorable position to advance in the series, with All-Star pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly lined up for the next games.
