Diamondbacks’ infield getting hot with extra-base hit fest over White Sox

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks’ infield had an incredible Wednesday performance collectively in an 11-7 win over the Chicago White Sox at Chase Field, as all four starters not only collected hits, but extra-base hits.

Let’s go around the horn:

– First baseman Ildemaro Vargas remained one of the hottest hitters in baseball by clubbing two home runs off White Sox southpaw Anthony Kay, driving in five runs with the two blasts. He homered in three straight plate appearances, going back to Tuesday night. Vargas leads the team with five home runs, and he extended his hitting streak to 17 games to start the year and 20 games overall.

– Second baseman Ketel Marte picked up two hits, including a double. He also hit a 115.8 mph rocket foul deep to left field. It was easily the hardest-hit ball of the game.

– Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo tripled for the second straight night to extend his hitting streak to six contests in the first inning. He tripled again and bunted for a single on Wednesday. His OPS was .524 on April 13, and now it’s .782.

– Third baseman Nolan Arenado crushed a two-run home run for his third hit of the game in the sixth inning. He finished 4-for-4 and also walked, reaching base five times. His .371 OPS on April 11 is up to .724.

The infield alone accounted for six extra-base hits and nine RBIs.

“This game’s hard, and guys don’t just come out of the gates hitting .400,” manager Torey Lovullo said of Perdomo and Arenado coming around.

“I told you guys a couple weeks ago, I’m not worried about (Perdomo) at all. … The one we’re getting to know is Nolan, and we’ve watched him work, we’ve had conversations with him, he’s open to coaching so when he surges and has this type of a day, we’re going to celebrate that because I don’t think anybody’s working harder at trying to find where he’s at.”

Even Jose Fernandez, an infielder who started at designated hitter on Wednesday, knocked two singles and walked twice.

And that does not even include right fielder Corbin Carroll’s three hits, including his fourth triple of the year. Carroll also stole two bases in an all-out offensive showcase for the D-backs.

The Diamondbacks scored double-digit runs for the first time this year, and they needed it, as a hot White Sox offense kept the pressure on.

Chicago took a 2-0 lead in the first inning off Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez, as Arizona has allowed runs in the opening frame in four straight games. The D-backs have surrendered 14 runs in the last three first innings they have played.

Miguel Vargas and Munetaka Murakami both homered again, three straight games for Vargas and five straight for Murakami. The latter has hit 10 home runs already as a rookie coming over from Japan, as he took Ryan Thompson 451 feet to center field on Wednesday.

Rodriguez ended up gutting through five innings with four runs but leaving the game with an 8-4 lead.

The D-backs finished with 16 hits as a team, and Wednesday was the third time in franchise history when they racked up at least three home runs and at least three triples in a single game.

Vargas’ three-run home run gave Arizona the lead in the second inning, one it would not relinquish.

“The three-run home run immediately gave the team energy, gave the dugout energy and just got us realigned,” Lovullo said.

Geraldo Perdomo coming for the Diamondbacks’ triples lead

Perdomo tripled in consecutive games for the first time in his career, and he became only the third D-backs player ever with three triples in a two-game span, per Stathead. David Peralta did so in 2015, and unsurprisingly Carroll accomplished the feat last July.

Perdomo’s three triples this season are tied for second in MLB, trailing Carroll’s four.

“I need it, man, I need it,” Perdomo said of catching Carroll. “He’s my model and I need to do it. He hits so many triples, so I’ve got to get my legs going.”

Ildemaro Vargas nears home runs career high

Vargas entered this season with a career-high in home runs of six from 2019.

He is one away from tying that before the end of April.

So, where is the power coming from?

“I don’t really know where the power is coming from,” Vargas said via Spanish interpreter Rolando Valles. “I’ve actually been working on my mobility. That’s one thing that I could credit. But I don’t really have a straight answer for that.”

Four of the switch-hitter’s five home runs this season have come from the right side, which lines up with his career slugging percentages of .425 versus lefties and .334 against righties.

But, he’s hit both very well this season so far, coming out of Wednesday’s game with .364 batting average and 1.079 OPS.

When asked whether he’s seen this power from Vargas before, Marte answered, “Yes, from the right side.”

One more before Mexico

The Diamondbacks and White Sox finish their series on Thursday before the D-backs will head to Mexico City to take on the San Diego Padres at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú Béisbol.

Michael Soroka will pitch against Chicago on Thursday, while the White Sox will start right-hander Davis Martin.

The game starts at 12:40 p.m. MST and will be available on ESPN 620 AM and the Arizona Sports app. 

Related

Latest Ildemaro Vargas-Diamondbacks reunion paying off big-time early: 'He always brings energy'Diamondbacks notes: A.J. Puk provides status report, rotation order changes being discussedJose Fernandez, Ildemaro Vargas still getting good use out of Carlos Santana's Gold GloveDiamondbacks score season-high 15 runs to secure series win over AthleticsRyan Waldschmidt crushes 1st major league home run, and it went a long wayD-backs move top prospect, Nogales native Demetrio Crisantes to Triple-A