ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Martinez continues home run splurge with game-tying shot vs. Padres

Sep 20, 2017, 9:02 PM | Updated: 10:01 pm

The beginning — and the middle — didn’t look good.

What became a 13-7 rout first looked like deja vu of the night prior, when A.J. Pollock began the night against the San Diego Padres with a lead-off home run and hit a second one later on only to see his Arizona Diamondbacks lose after producing no other offense.

On Wednesday, it was David Peralta leading off and smacking a game-opening homer. Jake Lamb followed with his own in the second to put Arizona ahead 2-0 before starting pitcher Robbie Ray began scuffling. After he allowed five earned runs and reliever J.J. Hoover allowed another through just five innings, Arizona trailed San Diego 6-2.

Finally, Arizona put together a string of strong at-bats in the top of the sixth, and a comeback half-inning that ended with a 6-6 tie was capped by none other than slugger J.D. Martinez ripping a two-run homer to right-center field.

The back-to-back National League Player of the Week’s 41st bomb of the year was his 12th of September, pacing him just one behind Arizona record-holder Luis Gonzalez’s month-long stretch of 15 jacks in April 2001.

Through 17 games this month, Martinez is tied for third in NL history for the number of home runs in September. He trails only Troy Tulowitzki’s 15 homers for the Rockies in 30 games of September 2010 and Alfonso Soriano’s 14 in 28 games for the Cubs in September 2007.

Against the Padres on Wednesday, Martinez got some much-needed help before he finished off the four-run frame.

First, it was D-backs pinch-hitter Ildemaro Vargas singling for his first MLB hit. Peralta walked before a Ketel Marte double and Paul Goldschmidt sac-fly scored the first two runs, making it 6-4.

With Marte on base, Martinez slung a high, 94-mph fastball off Dinelson Lamet out of the park to tie the game, and in the next inning, Peralta doubled to score Chris Herrmann for the go-ahead run.

The D-backs would pile on 11 straight runs to turn the four-run deficit in a seven-run lead before a ninth-inning solo shot by Hunter Renfroe, his third homer of the night, made for a 13-7 final score.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Diamondbacks

Lourdes Gurriel Jr....

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks keep good times rolling with 14-run inning, Opening Day rout of Rockies

What the Diamondbacks accomplished in the third inning against the Rockies on Thursday night was completely new for those in the ballpark. 

7 hours ago

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. flips his bat during Arizona Diamondbacks' 2024 Opening Day...

Arizona Sports

Diamondbacks score 14 runs in a single inning to beat Rockies on Opening Day

The Arizona Diamondbacks set franchise marks with 13 hits and 14 runs in the third inning of their 2024 Opening Day game against the Rockies.

10 hours ago

Blaze Alexander...

Alex Weiner

Blaze Alexander did all he could to make Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster

Diamondbacks infielder Blaze Alexander put together a spring that made it too difficult for the team to send him back to the minor leagues.

14 hours ago

Ketel Marte celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Ketel Marte to lead off Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Opening Day lineup is set ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

17 hours ago

Jordan Montgomery throws a pitch...

Tyler Drake

Hall: Diamondbacks’ addition of Jordan Montgomery ‘made a lot of sense’

The Diamondbacks' addition of Jordan Montgomery puts a bow on a rotation that should be in the conversation for the top spot across MLB.

19 hours ago

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable picks: One Diamondbacks young player to watch in 2024

Which Arizona Diamondbacks player should continue an upward trend in 2024? Gabriel Moreno, Brandon Pfaadt and Alek Thomas are possibilities.

19 hours ago

Martinez continues home run splurge with game-tying shot vs. Padres