Diamondbacks erupt for 8 runs in 8th inning to stun Cubs

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks erupted for eight runs in the eighth inning on Sunday to steal the series finale against the Chicago Cubs, 10-6.

The Diamondbacks trailed 6-2 after Chicago’s Kyle Tucker delivered what looked like a knockout blow, a three-run homer in the eighth inning right after Arizona stranded the bases loaded. Instead of a lackluster loss to end the opening series, the Diamondbacks mustered a jaw-dropping victory to salvage a series split and hit the road on a high note.

And it started with patient at-bats.

Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll led off with back-to-back walks, and Chicago turned to right-hander Eli Morgan in relief.

With one out, Geraldo Perdomo laced a gapper for a two-run double to bring the tying run to the plate. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. followed with a game-tying home run to left field, a no-doubter. And the D-backs were not close to being done.

PIÑA POWER TO TIE IT 🍍 pic.twitter.com/P0PtkW1E1v

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 30, 2025

Gabriel Moreno started a new rally with a poke single to right ahead of Josh Naylor, who came up with his biggest moment as a D-back so far. Naylor smoked a double into center for the go-ahead RBI, his fifth time on base.

The Cubs then intentionally walked Eugenio Suarez ahead of the pitchers’ spot because the D-backs already sacrificed the designated hitter and had no position players left.

The Diamondbacks entered the bottom of the 8th down by four, and they have taken the lead! 🐍

(via @Dbacks)pic.twitter.com/R5lfQXjpMc

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 30, 2025

Ketel Marte started at designated hitter and Garrett Hampson at second base. When the D-backs pinch hit Pavin Smith for Hampson in the sixth inning, Marte had to play the field. Arizona created the possibility a pitcher would have to hit if the team ran out of bench bats, which it did.

Bring on Ryne Nelson, who hit in college at Oregon, off the bench for his first career at-bat.

Naylor and Suarez executed a double steal, and Nelson poked a chopper up the middle for a base hit. Naylor scored and Suarez was thrown out at home, but Nelson picked up his first hit and RBI. Plus, Nelson advanced to second on the throw.

Ryne Nelson is bringing back Pitchers Who Rake in 2025! 👏

(via @Dbacks)pic.twitter.com/tOQdLXzTJ2

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 30, 2025

Thomas came back up and singled in Nelson. Carroll followed with a double for extra insurance before the rally finally ended at seven hits and three walks.

Reliever A.J. Puk came in and secured the victory in the ninth inning.

“That was a great team win,” Naylor said. “Everyone did their part. Everyone played great. Everyone played hard. That’s all you can ask for everyday.”

“It was just one quality at-bat after another,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “It was nine walks, 14 base hits. Rallies started with walks. Rallies were continued with walks. And then there was slug by the right guys at the right time.”

The Diamondbacks were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position through seven innings and finished 5-f0r-15. They had the lead-off hitter reach base in seven straight innings but failed to break through until the eighth.

“It’s frustrating at times, but, I mean, it all happens when it’s meant to happen,” Naylor said.

We saw this last year at times, that one big inning when teams struggled to stop the Diamondbacks’ momentum.

“It was pretty cool,” Thomas said. “I think you just try to stay in the game, have good at-bats and take it one at-bat at a time.”

Josh Naylor reaches base five times

Naylor finished the game with two hits and three walks.

It happened five times last year: twice from Ketel Marte and once from Christian Walker, Jake McCarthy and Suarez.

The Diamondbacks traded for Naylor this past offseason to fill a void in the middle of the order, and he’s 6-for-15 (.400) through four games.

“It’s me versus the pitcher. That’s really it,” Naylor said. “Try to get him to throw it in your zone. If he doesn’t, you got to do your best to take. Some days you’re maybe overly aggressive and you swing, but I try to be very calm when I’m in the box.”

How did Eduardo Rodriguez pitch?

Despite the high-scoring final tally, this game was a pitcher’s duel early, as Chicago led 1-0 after five frames.

D-backs starter Eduardo Rodriguez was excellent for most of his 5.1 innings, even striking out the side in the third.

His lone blemishes were loud, however, a pair of home runs by Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki. Swanson went yard in the second inning for a 1-0 lead, while Suzuki hit a two-run shot in the sixth.

Rodriguez only allowed three hits and struck out five batters, saying he felt good about the performance aside from a couple mistakes.

“Everything felt pretty good,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like I was throwing the ball right where I wanted. It was just those two pitches.”

His changeup was sharp, which he threw more than any other pitch.

On the other side, Cubs southpaw starter Matthew Boyd tossed five shutout innings, working out of trouble consistently before Chicago’s bullpen fell apart.

Diamondbacks up next

The Diamondbacks get Monday off and return to action Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

Corbin Burnes will make his D-backs debut against the 3-0 Yankees on national TV (TBS).

First pitch is at 4:05 p.m. on ESPN 620 AM and the Arizona Sports app. 

Related

Zack Littell comfortable with bullpen role on Diamondbacks: ‘I just want to help the team win’Corbin Carroll joins another historic club with 100th career home runDiamondbacks end dramatic homestand with maddening series loss to RockiesBlue Jays claim Paul Sewald after he was DFA’d by DiamondbacksDiamondbacks need to jumpstart offense to salvage series win vs. RockiesGeraldo Perdomo out of Diamondbacks’ lineup Tuesday with knee issue