The Arizona Diamondbacks delivered a heart-stopping finish in Arlington, Texas, on August 12, 2025, as Ketel Marte launched a thunderous solo home run with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting the D-backs to a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers. The win not only knotted up the three-game interleague series but also kept Arizona’s playoff hopes flickering, as they continue their late-summer push in the National League.
It was a night that had everything: tense pitching duels, controversial umpiring, clutch hitting, and managerial fireworks. The ninth inning, in particular, was a rollercoaster for both teams and their fans. With the score tied 2-2, Arizona’s Geraldo Perdomo was called out on strikes by home plate umpire Nate Tomlinson—a pitch that looked well below the zone. The Diamondbacks’ dugout, already simmering from earlier questionable calls, erupted. Manager Torey Lovullo stormed out, arguing vehemently with Tomlinson, and was promptly ejected for the 23rd time in his Arizona tenure.
"Geraldo Perdomo got rung up on strikes and Torey Lovullo has been ejected," reported Talkin’ Baseball, capturing the moment that set the stage for what came next.
With Lovullo out and bench coach Jeff Banister taking over, the D-backs needed a hero. Enter Ketel Marte. Four pitches after the ejection, Marte faced Rangers lefty Danny Coulombe—who had not surrendered a home run all year—and crushed a 1-2 sweeper 445 feet into the Texas night. The ball soared over the left-field wall, and the Arizona dugout exploded in celebration. Marte’s blast, his 22nd of the season, was his third ninth-inning homer of 2025, building on his MLB-leading nine such shots from the previous year.
"Ain't his first rodeo," the Diamondbacks’ official account quipped, sharing the moment with fans everywhere.
But Marte wasn’t done making his mark. In the bottom of the ninth, with Texas threatening and the tying run at the plate, rookie reliever Juan Morillo—fresh up from Triple-A Reno—was called upon to close the door. Josh Jung sent a sharp grounder up the middle, but Marte, flashing his defensive prowess, made a diving stop to rob Jung of a single. Morillo then retired the side, earning his first career save and sealing the Diamondbacks’ fourth win in their last five games.
Arizona’s victory was a testament to resilience, especially considering their struggles earlier in the night. The offense had been stymied, going just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Blaze Alexander provided an early spark with a solo homer in the third—his fourth of the season—while Marte tied the game in the seventh, beating out an infield single as Jose Herrera raced home, aided by a pair of costly Rangers errors. Tyler Locklear chipped in with two hits, helping Arizona tally eight on the night.
On the mound, Diamondbacks starter Anthony DeSclafani labored through three innings, surrendering two runs before handing the ball to the bullpen. The relief corps—Jake Woodford (3.1 innings), Jalen Beeks (1.2 innings), and Morillo (1 inning)—was lights out, combining to allow just one hit over the final six frames. Beeks, who notched the win, struck out one and issued a walk in his 1 2/3 innings of work.
For the Rangers, it was a night of missed opportunities. Texas managed only four hits, three of which came before the fourth inning. They were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, stranding seven men on base. The Rangers took an early lead in the second, with Joc Pederson singling and coming around to score on an Adolis Garcia groundout. After Alexander’s homer tied it, Texas briefly regained the advantage in the third on a Marcus Semien sacrifice fly. But after the third inning, the bats went silent.
Jack Leiter, the Rangers’ starter, delivered a solid effort, allowing one run on four hits over five innings. Coulombe, who had been nearly untouchable all season, was charged with the loss after Marte’s decisive blast.
The game also featured a notable lineup tweak for Arizona. Geraldo Perdomo, one of the league’s top on-base threats (.384 OBP, 13.3% walk rate), was moved to the leadoff spot, while Corbin Carroll—who has slugged 26 homers with a .554 slugging percentage—slid down to third. Perdomo extended his hitting streak to nine games with a double, while Carroll endured a rare off night, going 0-for-5.
"The dugout was particularly animated in the seventh inning, as Adrian Del Castillo was called out on a pitch that was well low to end the inning and strand two runners," noted Arizona Sports, highlighting the mounting frustration with the strike zone. Tyler Locklear was visibly agitated after a borderline call in the eighth, and by the time Perdomo was rung up in the ninth, patience had evaporated.
For Lovullo, the ejection was his third of the season—further evidence of his fiery commitment to his players. His willingness to go to bat for the team, even at personal cost, seemed to galvanize the Diamondbacks at the perfect moment.
With the series now tied, all eyes turn to the rubber match scheduled for August 13 at 11:35 a.m. MST. The pitching matchup is a fascinating one: Zac Gallen, Arizona’s ace, faces off against his former teammate Merrill Kelly, who was traded to Texas less than two weeks ago for a trio of prospects. It’ll be the first time the two right-handers square off, and with a series win on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
As the D-backs chase a wild-card berth—they sit 6 1/2 games back—the momentum from Marte’s heroics could prove invaluable. Texas, meanwhile, finds itself 6 1/2 games out of first in the AL West and 3 1/2 games behind in the wild-card race, making every contest crucial down the stretch.
What a night in Arlington! With tempers flaring, bats booming, and gloves flashing, the Diamondbacks proved they’re not ready to fade away just yet. The series finale promises more fireworks as both teams battle for postseason positioning and pride.
