Location: Chicago, Illinois
In a dominant display of offensive firepower, the Arizona Diamondbacks surged past the Chicago White Sox with a resounding 15-4 victory on Tuesday, bolstering their playoff aspirations and extending their winning streak against the White Sox to nine games dating back to 2014.
With this commanding win, the Diamondbacks (83-74) catapulted themselves into a one-game lead for the second of three National League wild-card spots. The Chicago Cubs (82-75) fell short, losing 7-6 to the Atlanta Braves on the same night. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins (81-75) sit just 1 1/2 games behind Arizona, with the Cincinnati Reds (81-77) trailing by 2 1/2 games.
Chicago (60-97), on the other hand, faces a daunting challenge of needing to win three of its remaining five games to avoid its first 100-loss season since 2018.
The White Sox ignited the contest by seizing a first-inning lead. Eloy Jimenez ignited the crowd with a three-run home run to left-center field, capitalizing on singles from Andrew Benintendi and Andrew Vaughn.
Despite the early setback, the Diamondbacks’ resilience came to the forefront. Christian Walker, the standout performer of the night, led off the top of the second inning with a home run against Chicago starter Jose Urena. Jimenez, however, continued to pose a threat for Chicago, contributing an RBI single in the bottom of the second to restore the White Sox’s advantage at 4-1.
The third inning saw the Diamondbacks mounting a comeback, scoring twice to narrow the gap. The pivotal moment arrived in the fifth inning when Christian Walker delivered a bases-clearing triple, propelling Arizona to a 7-4 lead as part of a six-run inning. Walker wasn’t finished there; he added to his heroics with a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
Ketel Marte, who had missed the previous two starts due to illness, made a triumphant return to the lineup by launching a solo home run in the eighth inning. Marte’s two-hit performance, which included three runs, bolstered the Diamondbacks’ offensive onslaught.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. contributed significantly, going 3-for-5 with a stellar performance. Geraldo Perdomo played a crucial role, recording two hits, three runs, and two RBIs. Alek Thomas also made his presence felt with two hits and an RBI.
Diamondbacks starter Zach Davies endured a challenging outing, yielding four runs and eight hits in just three innings, accompanied by one walk and three strikeouts. Ryne Nelson (8-8) came to the rescue, earning the victory with 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Nelson allowed only one hit, walked two, and struck out four White Sox batters.
Jose Urena (0-7), Chicago’s starter, labored through four innings, surrendering seven runs (four earned) and four hits. Urena issued three walks and recorded two strikeouts.
Andrew Benintendi and Eloy Jimenez led the White Sox’s offensive efforts with two hits each.
As the Diamondbacks savor this remarkable victory, they remain focused on their quest to secure a coveted wild-card spot and continue their playoff journey. The White Sox, while facing a challenging season’s end, will look to build towards a brighter future, seeking to rebound from this season’s struggles.
