The Arizona Diamondbacks got off to a hot start in game two of their four game series against the Miami Marlins, but it wasn't enough, as the Marlins came back to win 6-5 in ten innings. This was another crushing loss for the Diamondbacks, after being defeated by the Marlins 12-3 the night before. With the Giants beating the Dodgers 2-1, the Diamondbacks need to take advantage of their ten-game home stand and put together as many wins as possible. So far they are 0-2 coming out of the gates.
It didn't take the Diamondbacks long to get into the swing of things, as they sent all nine players to the plate in the first inning, scoring five runs. It wasn't a good sign for Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco when he walked Chris Young to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Aaron Hill followed with a double down the left field line that scored Young. Jason Kubel singled, and Paul Goldschmidt was walked to load the bases. Justin Upton added two more runs when he singled to left, and Miguel Montero scored Goldschmidt with his line drive single to right field. Ryan Wheeler registered the first out of the inning, but his sacrifice fly scored Justin Upton for their fifth and final run of the inning. Upton felt tightness in his left hamstring after scoring, and was replaced by Gerardo Parra.
Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco settled down after the rough start, and went on to pitch four shutout innings. He finished the night giving up five runs on six hits, while striking out two and walking two in five complete innings.
The Marlins slowly chipped away at the lead by scoring two runs in the second inning. Donovan Solano got the Marlins on the board with his single to center field that scored Carlos Lee, who was walked to lead off the second inning. Pitcher Ricky Nolasco helped his cause by hitting an RBI ground rule double over the head of left fielder Jason Kubel, scoring the Marlins second run.
The Diamondbacks maintained a 5-2 lead, as the Marlins were held in check until the sixth inning. Giancarlo Stanton, who recorded his sixth career multi-homer game last night, led off the inning with a double to left field. After a single by Donovan Solano scored Stanton, Diamondbacks pitcher Trevor Cahill was finished for the night. Cahill ended his night after pitching five and 1/3 innings, giving up four runs. He finished with six strikeouts, one walk, one hit batter, and gave up seven hits. Matt Albers came in relief, and after recording the second out of the inning, walked Austin Kearns. With runners on first and third, Gorkys Hernandez hit a broken bat single to score Solano. After Bryan Peterson singled to center field, scoring Austin Kearns, the Marlins had tied the game at 5-5.
The game remained tied after regulation, but with the bullpen depleted, Sam Demel entered the game for the Diamondbacks in the top of the tenth inning. Demel was just recalled from Triple-A Reno earlier today, and was making his first appearance for Arizona this season.
Gorkys Hernandez beat out a single to shortstop Jake Elmore to lead off the inning, and Bryan Peterson advanced Hernandez to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Demel intentionally walked Jose Reyes, Carlos lee hit a deep fly out that advanced Hernandez to third. With two outs, Giancarlo Stanton registered his third hit of the night, recording the game winning RBI as he scored Hernandez to give the Marlins the 6-5 lead.
The Diamondbacks made it interesting after Gerardo Parra and Miguel Montero both struck out to lead off the bottom of the tenth. Ryan Wheeler singled to second base, and Jake Elmore was walked to give the Diamondbacks runners on first and second. John McDonald entered the game as a pinch hitter, but the game ended when he hit a grounder to shortstop Jose Reyes, who flipped the ball to second baseman Donovan Solano for the force out.
This was not the way the Diamondbacks were hoping to begin their ten-game home stand. Starting out 0-2, and heading into a double-header tomorrow against the Marlins to finish the series. The best the Diamondback can hope for is a 2-2 series tie at this point. Tyler Skaggs will get his first big league start for the Diamondbacks in the afternoon game, while Wade Miley will get the start in the late game.