D-backs blow yet another save in extra innings loss to Brewers

PHOENIX – As has been the case time and time again this year, the Arizona Diamondbacks (63-69) took a lead into the top of the ninth inning Saturday, only to lose to the Milwaukee Brewers (70-62) 8-6 in front of 22,138 fans at Chase Field.  

With his team leading 6-5, D-backs reliever Ian Kennedy was called upon for the save opportunity in the ninth. He retired the first batter of the inning, Hunter Renfroe, on a fly ball to right field.

The Brewers then decided to insert Rowdy Tellez, who entered the night with 27 home runs in 2022, into the game as a pinch-hitter in place of starting second baseman Luis Urías. Tellez proceeded to hit a home run to deep center, tying the game at six.

The blown save was Kennedy’s fifth of the season, which puts him among league leaders in the category.

In the bottom half of the ninth inning, the D-backs were unable to walk the game off and it headed to extra innings.

In the tenth, Arizona brought in All-Star reliever Joe Mantiply. Milwaukee’s first batter of the inning, Tyrone Taylor, launched his second home run of the night.

The homer scored both Taylor and the automatic runner at second base, Esteury Ruiz, putting the Brewers up 8-6.

“Recently, I kind of feel like a liability a little bit,” Mantiply said postgame. “So, it’s tough to swallow, especially that one. That one hit the hardest all year. … Not getting the job done sucks.”

Brewers reliever Taylor Rogers retired the side in order in the bottom of the 10th giving Milwaukee the victory.

“These are the games that kind of eat at you …,” said D-backs manager Torey Lovullo. “Couple outs away from winning a baseball game, guy hits a pinch-hit home run. Doesn’t happen very often.”

While Arizona lost the game, it was not because of starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner.

Bumgarner has struggled for well over a month now but his start Saturday was his best since July 23 against Washington. Bumgarner went five innings, gave up just two earned runs and struck out four Milwaukee batters. He threw 95 pitches, 56 of which were strikes.

The two earned runs were his fewest in a start since the late July game against the Nationals.

“There’s still a lot to do better,” Bumgarner said. “But it was pretty good tonight. … I felt like I did a lot better job of keeping the ball out of the middle of the plate today.”

Lovullo discussed what he saw from the D-backs’ lefty on Saturday.

“(Bumgarner) was real good today,” Lovullo said. “Threw five innings, just a couple of earned runs. Thought he had a good fastball, good command, was changing speeds.”

UP NEXT

The D-backs go for the series victory on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. Arizona time. The D-backs will start Zac Gallen (10-2, 2.53 ERA), who has not allowed a run in 34 1/3 innings, and Milwaukee will start Jason Alexander (2-1, 4.97 ERA).

The game can be listened to on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.