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Diamondbacks, sans Ketel Marte, keep pace in wild-card race after dramatic win

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Diamondbacks, sans Ketel Marte, keep pace in wild-card race after dramatic win

PHOENIX — Their star second baseman hasn’t shown his face in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ clubhouse since he went AWOL a week ago, and has yet to publicly apologize to a single teammate.

Their manager has been privately mocked and scorned inside and outside the organization for his public response to Ketel Marte’s disappearing act.

Their starting rotation is a patchwork job with only one current starter who has been on their opening-day roster this entire season.

Their closer was released.

And yet, here are the Diamondbacks, staying alive in the National League wild-card race, showing uncanny resiliency with their MLB-leading 40th comeback victory of the season, winning 5-4 over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, Aug. 25, capped by rookie Ryan Waldschmidt’s pinch-hit, walk-off homer with two outs in the ninth inning.

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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season

The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.

(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)

“I think they have the mentality that they’re just a bunch of dogs,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said, “and they’re just not going to stop. They’re going to keep getting after it every single day, and that’s just ingrained in them. That’s been pounded into this group since they came into the system. They’re going to fight together every single day until the final out.

“This group is pretty darn special, and I legitimately think this group loves one another.”

That, of course, remains to be seen when Marte is scheduled to return to the Diamondbacks on Monday, Aug. 31 when they face the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field.

“We’re trying to create the softest space for him to re-emerge back into this environment,” Lovullo said. “And that’s up to him however he wants to do it. I cannot force a human being to do something that I want to do or anybody in this room wants to do or a fan wants to do. One of the things that makes Ketel such an extraordinary player is that he goes to the beat of his own drum.

“I’ve talked to just about every player, and I know how they feel. But it’s a very individualized situation.”

While some Diamondback players are incensed at Marte’s actions, knowing he also left the team for three games last season after the All-Star break without permission, others are open to forgiveness.

“We love Marte, so I wouldn’t say it’s a distraction,” Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt, who pitched 6 2/3 innings on Tuesday, told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s just that we’ve got to get him right, and we’ll be back on track.

“I feel like there’s a lot of drama outside of the clubhouse and people are trying to exaggerate what’s going on. But in the clubhouse, I feel like we’re all still together. We’re still on his side. I feel like there’s a lot of outside noise being brought up that most of it is exaggerated and not really true.”

This night, the only noise was the sound of Waldschmidt’s home run, traveling 408 feet into the night off reliever Jacob Webb, turning a 4-0 deficit in the eighth inning, while trailing 4-3 with two outs in the ninth, into the stunning victory.

The victory moves the Diamondbacks (70-63) within one game of the San Diego Padres for the third and final wild-card spot.

“I think that says a lot about all of us,” Waldschmidt said. “We’re pretty resilient. We’re never out of a game. I think it’s a pretty cool stat to be part of.”

Waldschmidt also became part of some historic stats himself. He became the first rookie to hit two walk-off homers while trailing in the same month, according to OptaStats. He also is the first rookie to hit a pinch-hit, walk-off homer in Diamondbacks history.

“Pretty cool,” Waldschmidt said. “Pinch-hitting’s hard in general, but to be able to come in against a team of this caliber, to go up there and be able to do something like that, obviously pretty cool.”

Ryan Waldschmidt celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run walk-off home run in the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field on Aug. 25, 2026.

Ryan Waldschmidt celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run walk-off home run in the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field on Aug. 25, 2026.

And just like that, with 29 games left to play, and veteran starters Zac Gallen and Corbin Burnes hoping to rejoin the team in mid-September, the D-backs are still alive.

“We haven’t had a lot of really positive momentum and good vibes …” Lovullo said. “But these boys don’t quit.”

Follow Bob Nightengale on X @Bnightengale.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diamondbacks, sans Ketel Marte, keep pace in wild-card race after dramatic win

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