NEW YORK — The Arizona Diamondbacks suffered a tough loss on Thursday night, falling to the New York Yankees by a score of 9-7 at Yankee Stadium. Despite a late-game rally, the Diamondbacks could not overcome a disastrous start from right-hander Merrill Kelly, who allowed a career-high nine runs in just 3 2/3 innings.
Kelly's performance was marked by a series of defensive lapses from his teammates, particularly in the outfield. Center fielder Alek Thomas and left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. struggled to track down catchable fly balls, leading to crucial runs for the Yankees. Thomas appeared to misjudge a fly ball that turned into a double, while Gurriel Jr. took a poor route on another, compounding the Diamondbacks' woes.
The Yankees jumped out to an early lead, with reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge hitting a three-run homer in the first inning, marking his 500th career extra-base hit. Judge's blast came after Ben Rice doubled and Cody Bellinger walked, giving New York a quick 3-0 advantage. The crowd erupted in cheers as Judge rounded the bases, becoming the third-fastest player in Yankees history to reach the milestone.
Trent Grisham added to the Yankees' lead with a two-run homer in the third inning, extending the score to 6-1. Judge contributed further with an RBI single in the fourth, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. capped off the Yankees' scoring with another two-run homer, making it 9-3 by the end of the fourth inning.
Despite the daunting deficit, the Diamondbacks showed resilience. In the seventh inning, Geraldo Perdomo hit a grand slam, pulling the score to 9-7 and igniting hopes of a comeback. The grand slam was Perdomo's first major league home run from the right side and marked his second career grand slam overall.
Arizona's offense had been quiet for most of the game but managed to score a pair of runs in the fourth inning thanks to a combination of walks and timely hits. Josh Naylor, who had a productive night with two hits and two runs scored, contributed significantly to the Diamondbacks' efforts.
While the Diamondbacks' pitching staff did a commendable job in relief, with Ryne Nelson throwing 2.1 scoreless innings, the early damage from Kelly proved too great to overcome. Kelly's struggles were evident as he allowed nine hits, three walks, and three home runs before being pulled from the game.
Manager Torey Lovullo expressed pride in his team's fighting spirit despite the loss, stating, "They're a great baseball team, and they didn't want to lose three games in a row on their home field. We kept fighting, and these guys love to compete. They're never out of the game." Lovullo's comments highlighted the Diamondbacks' determination and ability to rally late, a trait they have displayed throughout the season.
As the Diamondbacks prepare to head to Washington D.C. for a three-game series against the Nationals, they will aim to learn from their mistakes and build on the positives from their time in the Bronx. The series against the Yankees showcased both the potential and the pitfalls of the young Diamondbacks squad, who currently hold a 4-2 record.
The Yankees, now 4-2, will look to carry their offensive momentum into their next series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Carlos Carrasco earned the win for New York, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on five hits while striking out five. His performance was crucial, especially given the Yankees' injury struggles in their starting rotation.
As for the Diamondbacks, they will send Brandon Pfaadt to the mound to face the Nationals' Jake Irvin in their next outing. With the season still in its early stages, both teams are eager to find their rhythm and capitalize on their strengths as they navigate through the grueling MLB schedule.
In the end, while the Diamondbacks fell short in New York, their ability to rally in the later innings serves as a reminder of their competitive spirit. With a mix of young talent and experienced players, they remain a team to watch as the season unfolds.
