Sedona Red Recap: Emotional Hudson wins D-backs’ season finale in walk-off

PHOENIX — Through all the turmoil for the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2016 season, there have been few bright spots. But one of them came at the end of the season.

Phil Gosselin hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the D-backs a 3-2 walk-off over the San Diego Padres in the season finale, but the emotional close to 2016 came when reliever and soon-to-be free agent Daniel Hudson picked up the win in what could be his final game for Arizona.

Hudson tried to hold back tears after the game and was unable to finish his chat with the media.

Daniel Hudson very emotional after picking up the win. Had a tough time talking about how much the win meant for him. pic.twitter.com/a5pzIfoIet

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) October 2, 2016

“That was a cool moment,” Hudson said. “I wanted to get in there one more time.”

Hudson was asked about his next career move being a difficult process, but he said it was not as difficult as what he’s been through in his career with the D-backs that included two Tommy John surgeries and a move to the bullpen.

The pitcher barely got to his answer before crying. He said he hoped it wasn’t the last time he talked to the local media around his locker.

Hudson, whose July struggles led to the reliever shutting down his Twitter account, returned to the social media platform after the season finale.

I just cried like a baby on camera #SLAPHANDS

— Daniel Hudson (@DHuddy41) October 2, 2016

KOCH SHOWS WELL, AGAIN

Starting pitcher Matt Koch was impressive once again in his second career start, a 3-2 win for Arizona over the San Diego Padres in the season finale in front of 31,385 fans at Chase Field.

Setting up Hudson for the win, the Padres only had two runners in scoring position Sunday against Koch (1-1), and one of them scored.

D-backs manager Chip Hale said after the game that Koch could have kept pitching had it not been for a blister on his hand.

“It was just an exciting game, for sure,” Koch said.

The most notable return from the Addison Reed trade with the New York Mets in 2015, Koch has a 2.45 ERA in his two career starts. He picked up the no-decision Sunday and against the Washington Nationals on Sept. 27 after Randall Delgado allowed both of the runners left on by Koch to score.

“It’s just been fun,” Koch said of his first MLB experience. “It was just trying to soak everything in while I was here.”

Koch, the No. 19 ranked prospect by MLB.com for Arizona, is making a case that he deserves some attention in the battle for a rotation spot during spring training next year. While he’s only made two starts and come out of nowhere at the end of the year, Koch could capitalize on the horrific year for D-backs starting pitchers.

Koch wasn’t overeager to think of that possibility, and was more focused on having success in his debut season.

“It was more just getting the feet wet and just seeing how the league is and trying to get used to everything,” Koch said. “It was more about just getting the experience.”

Zack Greinke (4.37 ERA) and Rubby De La Rosa (4.26 ERA) are the only two starters of the 10 who made starts for Arizona this season who figure to have earned their spot back for next season.

Robbie Ray (4.90 ERA), Archie Bradley (5.02 ERA), Patrick Corbin (5.15 ERA), Shelby Miller (6.15 ERA), Braden Shipley (5.27 ERA), Zack Godley (6.39 ERA), Edwin Escobar (7.23) and Koch are the other eight.

Arizona finished the year 69-93 for fourth place in the National League West.

THE GOOD

The middle of the order for the D-backs delivered in the bottom of the second. Brandon Drury and Yasmany Tomas hit back-to-back singles, leading to Chris Owings’ RBI on a fielder’s choice. All three players involved were afterthoughts in the offense entering 2016 but have combined for 185 RBI this season.

Drury’s third hit of the game was a big one. His solo shot in the bottom of the eighth tied the game at two apiece.

Two reviews in the ninth both went in favor of Arizona. A go-ahead homer by Ryan Schimpf was overturned and ruled foul, and Tuffy Gosewich’s double was held up after a review was held to see if he got his foot on the base rounding first.

THE BAD

The last game of the season was not representative of Jean Segura’s tremendous 2016. He went 0-for-3 with one walk, including a double play to end the bottom of the seventh with a runner on third as the tying run.

The consistency did not sway, however, with the bullpen. San Diego took the lead off Steve Hathaway in the top of the seventh on a Luis Sardinas double off Steve Hathaway.

STAT OF THE GAME

2.45: Koch’s ERA on in his two starts. He’s only made two of them, but Koch’s ERA is the only one below four for any D-backs starting pitcher in 2016.

HE SAID IT

“He’s done a great job. It’s not easy to do that job.” – Hale on Phil Gosselin.

NOTED

– Arizona ends the year 8-11 in season finales at home.

– Segura was unable to reach Luis Gonzalez’s record for most hits in a season (206), needing three to tie and four to be the leader.

– Segura did reach the 100-run mark on Saturday, though, becoming only the sixth D-back to do so.

– The D-backs’ attendance last night pushed them over the 2,000,000 mark for the season, a feat they’ve reached all 19 seasons in the Valley.

Follow @KellanOlson