Nolan Arenado grand slam lifts Diamondbacks in home finale win over Yankees

PHOENIX — The Diamondbacks came back from down three runs to beat the New York Yankees 8-4 on Sunday, Arizona’s final home game of the 2026 regular season.

Nolan Arenado’s go-ahead grand slam with two outs in the fifth inning off Brent Headrick completely turned the game around, giving the D-backs a 6-4 lead.

It came one pitch after Arenado hit a foul ball that just missed clipping the left-field foul pole.

“Slightly bummed when I saw the first one go foul,” Arenado said. “I knew I just had to regroup and stay ready. I saw the first two pitches well, so I feel like I could just stay on the heater throughout the at-bat.”

Nolan Arenado crushes a GRAND SLAM ‼️

The @Dbacks take the lead! pic.twitter.com/8By3gdx1zD

— MLB (@MLB) September 20, 2026

The Diamondbacks chased Yankees starter Will Warren in that fifth inning after Lars Nootbaar doubled, Ketel Marte singled and Gabriel Moreno walked to load the bases. Corbin Carroll drew a clutch walk to bring home a run with two outs, but the D-backs still needed that one big swing.

Arenado has hit 27 home runs this season, joining Steve Finley as the only players in Diamondbacks history to hit that many long balls in their age 35 seasons or older, per Stathead. He continues to pay off the organization’s decision to trade for him despite his struggles last season.

“Obviously a big moment. It felt good to come through,” Arenado said.

Arizona’s 47 comeback wins lead the major leagues. The last time the D-backs earned this many comeback wins was back in 2011 (48).

“I don’t know if that’s the best (stat) to be number one in, but I think it is pretty cool in the sense that we don’t quit and we continue to fight,” Arenado said.

Despite a season of ups and downs, including this ultimately disappointing 4-5 homestand, the Diamondbacks finished their home slate with a pair of energizing victories. Their 45 home wins this season are the club’s most since 2017.

Diamondbacks playoff race update

When the Diamondbacks (82-74) play another game at Chase Field is an open-ended question for the time being, considering their playoff chances are low entering the final week of the season and the expectation is that there will be a lockout starting this upcoming offseason.

Elsewhere in the National League Wild Card race, the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies both won on Sunday. The Phillies are four games ahead of the D-backs as the third Wild Card team, while the Padres are five ahead in a tie for the top spot. 

San Diego swept the Miami Marlins, who won two of three games at Chase Field this past week. The Padres will face the Los Angeles Dodgers next, the Phillies host the Milwaukee Brewers and the D-backs visit the Colorado Rockies.

San Diego’s magic number is down to two, while Philadelphia’s is three.

“I’m a human being … I’m adding things up and watching what’s going on,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We need things to go our way. … Anything is possible. We had a three-game lead with seven games to go in 2024 and we went home.”

Diamondbacks win pseudo bullpen game

Corbin Burnes made his third start since coming back from elbow surgery and a subsequent shoulder strain. It did not go according to plan, as Burnes lasted 2.2 innings and let in four runs on three home runs.

Heliot Ramos, George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones each went deep in the third inning to give the Yankees a 4-1 lead.

Burnes’ stuff has not been the same as it was before surgery. His velocity is down, as is the movement on his signature cutter. That is not abnormal considering he missed 15 months, but this is a tough time of year to be going through this build-up period.

“It’s frustrating because you don’t want to go out and pitch like that when you’re trying to pitch for your life,” Burnes said. “Basically, you’ve got to win every game we’re playing for our life here. So, to go out and pitch like that, you can’t have it.”

From there, the Diamondbacks had to pivot to a bullpen game with an off day on Monday to reset.

Ryne Nelson, Justin Martinez, Taylor Clarke, Brandyn Garcia and Jonathan Loaisiga shut down the Yankees for 6.1 frames with three hits combined and no walks.

Lovullo said he wanted to get to his bullpen quickly given their effectiveness this season, and the unit continued to give this club chances to come back.

“We won this game because of that group,” Lovullo said.

Sunday attendance

37,755

Season attendance: 2,288,586

Diamondbacks-Rockies probables

Tuesday: RHP Michael Soroka (8-5, 3.45) vs. LHP Kyle Freeland (4-10, 6.38)

Wednesday: RHP Merrill Kelly (9-14, 5.00) vs. RHP Mason Adams (0-1, 5.09)

Thursday: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (15-7, 2.89) vs. TBA

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