D-backs Hang on to Defeat Phillies 4-3

Ryne Nelson won't show as the winning pitcher tonight, but just like Tommy Henry did last night, Nelson made a statement, and then some.  Nelson threw six innings of one run ball as the Diamondbacks knuckled their way through the final three innings to defeat the Phillies 4-3 and improved their record to 29-20.

Box Score

"I think we're in a really good spot, we have a lot of positive energy and belief we're going to get the job done" said D-backs manager Torey Lovullo. "If things get tense, we relax in the moment and expect to execute."

Nelson, who pitched well in his last start, needed to have another good outing to make sure he isn't the one who will be sent to Reno when Zach Davies returns, possibly as soon as Friday. He answered the bell tonight with a great fastball, topping out at 98 MPH in the early going and landing it for strikes. He threw 48 fastballs out of 82 pitches, He threw just enough sliders, cutters, getting some called strikes.

The only damage  against Nelson came in the bottom of the second when Kody Clemens doubled in J.T. Realmuto with two outs. Bryce Harper singled to lead off the 4th inning, but was eliminated when Gabriel Moreno threw him out attempting to steal. It was the 13th caught stealing for Moreno in 25 steal attempts. His 52% caught stealing rate is the best in MLB. Nelson got the next two outs to end that inning.  He retired the side in order in the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th innings, pitching to only two over the minimum. His final line was 6 IP, 3 H, 1ER, 0 BB, 4K.  He also lowered his ERA to 5.02 and his FIP to 4.52

Moreno gave Nelson an early lead to work with when he hit his second homer of the year, a two-run shot to left field in the bottom 2nd inning. He also walked twice and had a key stop on a wild pitch from Scott McGough in the 8th inning, lunging far past the left hand batters box to snare a pitch headed to the backstop in the middle of a Phillies rally attempt. 

"He's kind of an unsung hero," said Lovullo. "He hits the big two-run home run that gets us playing downhill baseball and helps us relax. There are a lot of little things he's doing right. He was like a hockey goalie back there for a couple pitches. That's not easy to do, the split is very unpredictable but he's very agile. The big out with Harper being caught stealing gave our pitcher a breathe of fresh air with Schwarber at the plate."

Ketel Marte tripled in Geraldo Perdomo in the 3rd inning, extending his on base streak to 23 games. That put the D-backs up 3-1 at the time.  Corbin Carrol had three hits, including two lead off doubles  in the 4th and 6th, but was stranded both times. The D-backs hitters went 2-14 with runners in scoring position and missed numerous opportunities to put the game away early. 

It looked like the game may turn into a heartbreaking loss when the Phillies tied it up with two runs in the seventh inning off Kyle Nelson and Jose Ruiz.  Nelson walked Harper and gave up a double to Nick Castellanos, handing 2nd and 3rd one out mess to Jose Ruiz.  After walking a batter, a fielders choice ground ball to second and a single allowed the tying runs to score. 

As they've done so often this year however, the Diamondbacks would answer back immediately after the other team scored. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. extended his hitting streak to 16 with a leadoff double. After Christian Walker drew a walk, Carroll cashed in with an RBI base hit to score Gurriel for the go ahead, game winning run.

There was one more piece of drama in the bottom of the 8th however. Andrew Chafin gave up a two out double to Harper and was relieved by Scott McGough. It was during he next at bat to Castellanos that Moreno made his great snare of a potential wild pitch.  Castellanos ended up walking, giving Philly first and second with two outs. Kyle Schwarber hit a sinking line drive that looked like a sure hit, with an expected batting average of .930, but Dominic Fletcher raced in to make a sliding catch.  Had that ball got by him, at least two runs score. Ultimately it proved to be their last gasp, as Miguel Castro retired the side in order in the 9th to secure the win and the series victory.

The final game of the series before they head home for the weekend is at 10:05 A.M. Arizona Time, 1:05 P.M. EST.  Zac Gallen is on the mound for the D-backs, who will be going for the sweep. He'll face Ranger Suarez, who is making his third start of the year.