Diamondbacks’ margin for error tightens after series loss to Rangers

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks cut a 7-1 deficit to 7-6 on Sunday against the Texas Rangers and brought their most consistent hitter up to bat with the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Gabriel Moreno popped out, Arizona’s latest comeback attempt came up just short and the team fell to 79-71.

With the series loss to Texas, the Diamondbacks’ postseason odds are entering some dangerous waters.

Arizona fell to three games back of the Padres in the loss column with 12 games to play (ahead of San Diego’s Sunday Night Baseball matchup against the San Francisco Giants).

In their pursuit of the Padres for the final National League Wild Card spot, the Diamondbacks need to stay within three games to go into the final series of the regular season in San Diego with a chance to get into the playoffs — ideally the difference is only a game to set up a win-and-you-are-in series.

The Diamondbacks and Rangers entered this three-game series in similar positions. The Rangers looked like the more locked-in team for most of Sunday’s game, as the Diamondbacks’ early offense and defense were letdowns.

The offense going cold against a right-handed starting pitcher, Cal Quantrill in this case, is standard procedure at this point.

Arizona finally broke through once the Rangers turned to lefty Scott Alexander out of the bullpen, as third baseman Nolan Arenado hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning. But the score was already lopsided, which was preventable.

The defense failed starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez in the fifth inning, when the Rangers led 2-1 (just like Saturday’s 6-2 loss). A fielding error from Arenado started the descent.

Rodriguez had Corey Seager punched out looking at a pitch on the outside corner, but home plate umpire Bill Miller called it a ball. Catcher James McCann did not use an ABS challenge (Arizona had one remaining), and Seager hit an RBI single on the next pitch.

The very next hitter, Josh Jung, hit a single to left that was misplayed and skipped past Lars Nootbaar, bringing in another run. It was a comedy of errors at the point when this game was hanging in the balance.

None of the three runs Texas scored that inning were earned, and Rodriguez ended with 5.1 innings pitched and three earned runs.

The Diamondbacks showed life once again late, as doubles by Arenado, Tim Tawa and Jordan Lawlar got the crowd to its feet. It felt like many other Diamondbacks comebacks from this season (they have an MLB-leading 43 comeback wins), but it took too long for a team clawing to get back to the postseason to wake up.

The pressure is on to turn the page quickly.

Nolan Arenado cracks 25 home runs

Arenado’s blast was his 25th of the season, the first time he has reached a quarter-century since 2023 with St. Louis.

Only 14 times in MLB history has a primary third baseman 35 years or older hit 25 home runs, and Arenado has joined that list, which includes Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt, Chipper Jones and Adrian Beltre.

Arenado is also the seventh primary third baseman since 1900 to hit 25 home runs in nine separate seasons.

Sunday attendance

28,843

Next series

The Diamondbacks host the Miami Marlins for three games, starting Monday.

Corbin Burnes will start Monday’s opener, his first appearance at Chase Field since June 1, 2025.

Sandy Alcantara will take the hill for Miami in a matchup of National League Cy Young winners. Burnes won the 2021 Cy Young Award, while Alcantara took home the hardware in 2022.

Related

Zac Gallen moving to bullpen role, as Michael Soroka wins final rotation spotDiamondbacks have seen playoff races like this before: Does that experience help?Diamondbacks designate Lourdes Gurriel Jr. for assignmentLost challenge flips Diamondbacks’ loss to Rangers on its headWild Card standings: D-backs jockeying for position with PadresDiamondbacks collect autographs, wear decorated cleats for Childhood Cancer Awareness Day