The Arizona Diamondbacks’ resilience was on full display this weekend in Minneapolis, as they battled through adversity, injury scares, and late-inning drama to claim a crucial series win over the Minnesota Twins. With a 6-4 victory on Sunday, September 14, 2025, the Diamondbacks not only snapped a years-long drought at Target Field but also kept their improbable National League Wild Card hopes alive heading into a season-defining homestand.
For Arizona, Sunday’s triumph was more than just another notch in the win column. It marked their first series win at Target Field since 2014, breaking a nine-game losing streak in Minnesota. The team’s record now stands at 75-75, an even .500, and they remain in the thick of a crowded NL Wild Card race with a challenging schedule ahead. Manager Torey Lovullo summed up the feeling, stating, “It’s what you dream of. Being in the hunt in the middle of September.”
The Diamondbacks’ journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward. At the trade deadline, the club was widely considered a seller, dealing away key contributors, including a middle-of-the-lineup bat and their top starter. Yet, the players who stayed have rallied, leaning on each other and the coaching staff, determined to make every game count. “Knowing what the trade deadline meant to us,” catcher James McCann reflected, “for the run that this team has gone on, it’s just a testament to the players in the locker room, the coaching staff, just pulling in the same direction and leaning on each other.”
Sunday’s game was a microcosm of Arizona’s season: gritty, unpredictable, and just a little bit wild. The Diamondbacks’ offense was powered by James McCann, who blasted a momentum-swinging three-run homer in the fourth inning, flipping a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead. McCann wasn’t done, later adding an RBI single to his tally. “We haven’t played good baseball here,” Lovullo admitted of the team’s struggles in Minnesota, “but it’s nice to get a big win here today.”
The Twins had jumped out early, capitalizing on two errors by Arizona third baseman Jordan Lawlar in the second inning. Edouard Julien delivered an RBI single, Byron Buxton reached on a run-scoring error, and Royce Lewis swiped second base to keep the pressure on. But the Diamondbacks’ right-hander Nabil Crismatt steadied the ship, tossing five effective innings and keeping Minnesota from running away with it. The Arizona bullpen was pressed into action early, with five pitchers combining to navigate the late innings and escape a pair of bases-loaded jams.
Bailey Ober, starting for the Twins, was tagged with his eighth loss of the season despite striking out nine and walking none over six innings. Ober’s Achilles’ heel proved to be the long ball, as McCann’s three-run shot in the fourth was the decisive blow. The Twins did their best to claw back, with Matt Wallner launching his 22nd homer of the year in the sixth—called by broadcaster Justin Morneau just seconds before it happened—and rookie Mickey Gasper belting his second career homer in the seventh. Still, Arizona’s bullpen held firm, and the Twins’ late rally fizzled out.
Arizona added insurance runs in the late innings, with Tim Tawa delivering an RBI single and Alek Thomas bringing home another on a sacrifice fly. These runs, charged to relievers Genesis Cabrera and Michael Tonkin, padded the Diamondbacks’ lead and proved crucial as the Twins threatened in the final frames. Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, meanwhile, continued to struggle at the plate, going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts and remaining quiet for the second consecutive game.
The series was not without its share of drama and concern for the Diamondbacks. Blaze Alexander, a versatile infielder and outfielder, was hit on the left elbow by an 89.9 mph sinker from Ober in the fourth inning and had to exit the game. Initial fluoroscopy imaging revealed no significant damage, but Alexander will undergo further testing, including likely X-rays and an MRI, upon the team’s return to Phoenix. Ever the jokester, Alexander lightened the mood in the clubhouse by telling teammates his “horoscope” came back negative, only to be corrected that it was actually a “fluoroscope.” Manager Lovullo laughed, “Did he really say that? I love Blaze Alexander.” Alexander remained hopeful he could return soon, although he could barely bend his elbow postgame.
There’s also some worry surrounding left-handed reliever Andrew Saalfrank, who has been managing a shoulder issue for several days. While Saalfrank himself sounded optimistic, Lovullo was cautious, noting, “We ask our athletes to be honest with us. He’s not 100 percent. We just want to make sure that we evaluate it and give it the right [amount of rest] before he says he’s ready to go. Does that mean time on the injured list? That’s certainly a possibility, but I’m going to remain hopeful that it’s not.”
Defensively, Arizona’s Jordan Lawlar had a tough day, committing two errors that led directly to both Minnesota runs in the second inning. Lawlar’s defensive struggles have been a recurring theme, and with Alexander’s status uncertain, his ability to handle third base becomes even more critical. Lovullo addressed Lawlar’s issues with his staff postgame, saying, “We’re going to get in the canoe with him and row with him and figure out exactly what’s going on, create a good mindset, create good work habits and let that translate into good results on the field.”
For the Twins, the loss capped a disappointing weekend and an even more disappointing season. With Saturday’s extra-inning defeat, Minnesota was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth time in five years. The team’s 2023 playoff series win now feels like a distant memory, as a midseason fire sale and a string of tough losses have left fans and management searching for answers. Manager Rocco Baldelli, reflecting on reliever Cole Sands’ tough outing in Saturday’s 5-2 loss, said, “He found ways off of their barrels. He wasn’t rewarded for that at all tonight. I don’t think he threw the ball poorly. Not his best, but I didn’t think it was as poor as what it might look like if you look at the stat line.”
Looking ahead, the Diamondbacks return home for a critical homestand, starting with a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants, followed by series against the Phillies and Dodgers, before finishing the season in San Diego. With just 12 games left and the NL Wild Card race tighter than ever, every pitch, every at-bat, and every defensive play will be magnified. As James McCann put it, “It’s coming down to the wire… We got everything to play for. I like our shot.”
For now, Arizona’s playoff dreams are alive and well, while the Twins are left to regroup and rebuild. The next week promises high drama, as the Diamondbacks look to turn their unlikely September surge into a ticket to October.
