PHOENIX — The season’s signature moment for the Arizona Diamondbacks came Monday, in the bottom of the ninth, Corbin Carroll belting a pinch hit, two-run, walk-off home run that provided an improbable comeback over the Washington Nationals at Chase Field.
From the dugout, manager Torey Lovullo watched Carroll round first base. He noticed the emotion the struggling,second-year outfielder showed, and the smile Carroll flashed as he neared teammates waiting for him at home plate. It spoke volumes.
“Yeah, I think that was a huge sigh of relief, that the hard work got the results that directly led to the win,’’ Lovullo said. “It was a great moment for all of us. He was working so hard that everybody felt that excitement for him.”
The reigning National League champs are among baseball’s hottest teams. After edging Washington 5-4 on Wednesday, completing their second sweep of the season, the Diamondbacks finished July at 17-8 and in the thick of the NL wild-card race. At 58-51, they are seven games over .500 for the first time this season.
They’ve had to grind to get here. Arizona was expected to make another postseason run, but injuries hit hard, especially in the rotation. No. 2 starter Merrill Kelly hasn’t pitched since April because of a right shoulder strain. Eduardo Rodriguez, who signed a four-year deal with Arizona in December, hasn’t pitched at all because of a left shoulder issue.
It hasn’t helped that Carroll, last season’s NL Rookie of the Year, a force on the base paths, has underperformed. Nor has it helped that Eugenio Suárez, brought in to provide pop to a lineup in need, was so bad during the first half that the biggest question in town was whether he should be designated for assignment.
That’s what made the Nationals series, aside from Paul Sewald’s closing issues Wednesday, so intriguing. As Carroll rounded the bases Monday, his line-drive blast giving Arizona a five-run ninth and 9-8 win, it felt like a moment. Throughout his struggles, Carroll has remained focused on the process, one that placed him fifth in last year’s NL MVP voting. But the smile and emotion gave him away. It felt like something bigger.
CORBIN CARROLL PINCH-HIT WALKOFF HOME RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/923dqFuPzY
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 30, 2024
Lovullo wasn’t the only one who noticed.
“A couple guys mentioned it in the clubhouse,’’ hitting coach Joe Mather said. “Just the feel of it. How good it must have felt, just seeing the lightness on him. It’s tough being in his scenario. Rookie of the Year. A good contract. … There are so few at-bats under his belt. It’s hard to come out and have another major year.”
The next night, Suárez swatted three home runs and drove in five in a 17-0 win over the Nationals, an effort that continued a torrid month that has turned around his season. Over the first three months, Suárez, acquired in an offseason trade with Seattle, had been awful. In May he slashed .172/.229/.276. In June he wasn’t much better. Entering July, a man who had averaged nearly 29 home runs over the previous eight seasons, had a measly six. It was reasonable to wonder how much more time Arizona would give him.
Mather said Suárez was frustrated but he continued to work. The Diamondbacks added more velocity to his machine work, more spin to the breaking balls. And when the time was right, Mather reminded him: “It’s going to come around. Trust the process.”
Suárez singled twice in Wednesday’s win. In July he hit .333 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs. It’s come around.
“His intent in the cage and the focus has always been there, but just the intent of every swing has been as good as you can ask for,” said Mather, who also worked with Suárez during the third baseman’s time with the Cincinnati Reds. “For me, (the turnaround) has been a combination of that, getting comfortable in a new environment and getting the pitches that he wants to hit.”
It’s a 3-homer night for Eugenio Suárez! 👏
(via @Dbacks)pic.twitter.com/nFS0YEXbY6
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 31, 2024
Arizona still has obstacles. First baseman Christian Walker, who’s had a strong season, suffered a left oblique strain Monday and is expected to miss a few weeks. On Tuesday, the Diamondbacks acquired veteran Josh Bell in a trade with the Miami Marlins to help offset Walker’s loss, but his presence will be missed.
Kelly and Rodriguez are expected to return soon, but it’s difficult to know what to expect. Kelly was perhaps Arizona’s best pitcher in its postseason push to last season’s World Series, while Rodriguez has been a solid starter for most of his eight-year career. Complicating matters: Left-hander Jordan Montgomery, another offseason pickup, has struggled when healthy.
Then there’s Sewald. The Arizona closer had missed the season’s first month with a right oblique strain. Upon his return, however, he was dominant. Over his first 18 appearances, he recorded 11 saves and an 0.54 ERA. But July was a disaster. Sewald blew his first three save opportunities and blew a fourth Sunday against the Pirates. In Wednesday’s series finale, he entered the ninth with a 5-2 lead, but didn’t survive, giving up a double and three walks. He was charged two runs.
Ryan Thompson recorded the final two outs.
“I know everybody wants to know: ‘What’s the closer situation?’ Are you going to dump (Sewald) out of the closer role?’’’ Lovullo said after the game. “That’s not my priority right now with Paul. My priority is to find out if he’s getting blocked by some sort of a delivery (issue.)”
The good news for the Diamondbacks is they’ve overcome adversity and found their stride. Pitcher Zac Gallen said they kept their heads above water for a while, but it came to the point where they realized “it’s time to get it in gear.” Ketel Marte has played at an MVP level. Veteran Kevin Newman has filled in where needed. Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson have helped hold the rotation together.
If Carroll and Suárez can keep building and the rotation gets healthy, a strong month could turn into something greater. The Diamondbacks experienced as much last season.
“It’s easy to blame it on injuries,’’ Thompson said. “I just don’t think we’ve really played to the best of our ability up until this point. It’s easy to look at this stretch and be like, ‘Wow, we’re playing above expectation.’ I think this is (the) expectation. We were in the World Series (last year) for a reason.”
(Photo of Corbin Carroll celebrating his walk-off home run: Norm Hall / Getty Images)
