D-backs look to ride momentum of alert play into finale vs. Orioles

The Arizona Diamondbacks found a novel way to help end a three-game losing streak while keeping the Baltimore Orioles in a bit of a funk.

Corbin Carroll’s fourth homer of the season, in the third inning, and Josh Naylor’s two-run double in the fifth were the big blows in Arizona’s 4-3 victory on Tuesday. A smart defensive play also helped preserve the win.

The Diamondbacks will chase a series victory on Wednesday afternoon when they host the Orioles in Phoenix.

Arizona was ahead 4-2 when left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. made a sliding catch with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning. His ensuing throw started an unlikely sequence that helped the Diamondbacks get out of the situation with minimal damage and eventually even the series at one win apiece.

Cedric Mullins scored on Gurriel’s throwing error, but Tyler O’Neill was doubled off second base after he failed to properly tag up.

“We talk about winning inches, being aware, having a high baseball IQ,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “It looked the entire infield acted the way they should have and got the ball where it needed to be. They completed the play and got the out, which was huge. If they don’t record the out, we would have been in a lot of trouble.”

The run counted to make it 4-3 because the final out of the inning was not recorded until Mullins had scored.

“It’s a tough play for everybody,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “Gurriel makes a heck of a play. Ced did a great job of base running, tagging up. Tyler got too far off.”

Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt (1-1, 5.25 ERA) is to slated to face Baltimore’s Dean Kremer (1-1, 6.52) in a battle of right-handers on Wednesday.

Pfaadt enters after his first victory of the season, 6-4 at Washington on Friday, when he gave up four runs and six hits in six innings but benefited from Randal Grichuk’s tie-breaking double in the seventh.

Pfaadt has gone six innings in both of his starts this season and has surrendered four homers, three to the Nationals. He took the loss in his only previous career start against the Orioles, giving up three runs in six innings of a 4-2 setback at Camden Yards last May 10.

Kremer lost his only career start against the Diamondbacks in the same series in which Pfaadt appeared. He gave up six runs (three earned) in 5 2/3 innings of a 9-2 defeat on May 12, leaving after Jake McCarthy’s two-run homer in a six-run sixth inning.

Now, both teams have injury news to digest.

Arizona will be without Ketel Marte for “a series of weeks,” Lovullo said before Tuesday’s game, which will leave second base in the hands of Garrett Hampson and Tim Tawa.

Marte, who signed a five-year, $116.5 million contract extension a week ago, sustained a Grade 1 strain of his left hamstring while running out a double in the first inning of the victory over the Nationals on Friday. He set career highs with 36 homers and 95 RBIs last season, finishing third in NL MVP voting.

Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin appears to have avoided a stint on the injured list after leaving Monday’s start following 73 pitches because of shoulder fatigue. He underwent an MRI in Arizona on Tuesday and will be shut down for about a week, Hyde said.

–Field Level Media