The Arizona Diamondbacks were able to even the series with the Athletics Tuesday night thanks to a heroic walkoff from the veteran Ildemaro Vargas and a solid major league debut from Kohl Drake.
Kohl Drake gave the Dbacks 5 much needed solid innings tonight for his major league debut. Overall his stuff was just ok, he especially struggled to throw his curveball for strikes. The 3rd inning almost got away from him, however he was able to get a big double play ball and was able to hold the A’s to just the 1 run through 5 innings. This start today from Drake was a huge shot in the arm for a rotation that has sustained some injuries and had its depth tested the past couple of weeks.
Of the 5 runs tonight, 3 of them came in the bottom of the first inning when Max Kepler hit a 3 run home run giving the offense and the young Kohl Drake some much needed breathing room to begin this game. Kepler appears to really be turning a corner these past few games including the walk off the other day, the HR today, and he had some big at bats throughout this game including a clutch walk in the bottom of the 10th.
Unfortunately for the Dbacks, Paul Sewald blew just his second save tonight in the 101st game of the season giving up a 2 run game tying home run in the bottom of the 9th inning with 2 out. Sewald has been so good in these save situations, but unfortunately tonight he made a mistake in location to one of the best hitters on the team.
Fortunately for Sewald and the Dbacks, the offense was able to come through in the bottom of the 10th inning. The A’s were able to get a run across in the top of the inning and were leading the Dbacks 5-4 heading into the bottom of the 10th, but the Dbacks were able to clutch up and show some great discipline with a leadoff walk to Gabi Moreno, followed by the aforementioned great at bat by Max Kepler leading to another walk and loading the bases for Nolan Arenado with no outs. Arenado recorded his 2001st career hit a couple of pitches later scoring Corbin Carroll from 3rd base and tying the game. And after a Tim Tawa strikeout, it was none other than the seasoned veteran Ildemaro Vargas that would rise to the occasion tonight and play hero. After a couple of tough pitches to begin the at bat, Vargas did what he does so well and took a shoulder high fastball into left field to walk the game off and send the fans home happy! Such a deserving player who has meant so much to this team this season coming through when the team needed him the most so good to see!
That hit by Vargas is amplified even more considering the Marlins, Cardinals, and the Nationals all lost tonight moving the Dbacks into a tie for the 3rd wild card spot with the Pirates. Such a key win for the Dbacks at a key moment in the season. The Dbacks will look to win the series tomorrow afternoon as they send Merrill Kelly to the hill. Kelly will look to maintain his recent momentum and put his team in good position heading into the road trip of the season where they will face all of the other 3rd wild card contenders in the span of a week.
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