Welcome back, Arenado: Diamondbacks cap a week of drama with extra-inning win over Red Sox

With Luis Gonzalez in the broadcast booth, Nolan Arenado flared a jam-shot single over a drawn-in infield for the go-ahead RBI in a 7-6 extra-inning win for the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday.

Of course the situation paled in comparison to 2001, but Arenado’s knock was a significant hit for a team that has dealt with turmoil this week and came together to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Diamondbacks did not get the stopper performance from Brandon Pfaadt that he’s made look routine lately, and Arizona blew a 5-2 lead in this game.

Arenado returned after missing two games with an intercostal injury and delivered two hits, bringing in the ghost runner that has eluded the Diamondbacks so many times this season. Jose Fernandez walked home an insurance run to take a 7-5 lead in the 10th inning.

The Diamondbacks will now return home, wondering whether Ketel Marte will greet them in the clubhouse on Friday when they arrive to play the Cincinnati Reds.

All-in-all — with Marte missing the series, Justin Martinez and Jordan Lawlar returning from long-term injuries, a series win over the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves followed by two hapless games at Fenway Park — the D-backs went 3-3 on the road trip. They are 9-9 over the past 18 games, hanging around the NL Wild Card chase.

The San Diego Padres lost on Wednesday, so the Diamondbacks (67-61) moved back to one game behind for the third spot.

Diamondbacks rally, but Red Sox get to Brandon Pfaadt

The D-backs faced another uphill battle early on Wednesday when they fell behind 2-0. Pfaadt had not allowed a home run in eight straight starts before Red Sox second baseman Nick Sogard hit his first career long ball to lead off the first. Jarren Duran went deep in the third inning.

It took some time before the Diamondbacks got rolling on offense, but that breakthrough occurred in the fifth. Against the rolling Payton Tolle, Fernandez and Ryan Waldschmidt hit back-to-back doubles, and Gabriel Moreno walloped a go-ahead double later in the frame.

Moreno extended his hitting streak to 13 games, the second longest by a catcher in D-backs history (Miguel Montero leads with 18).

A Lars Nootbaar two-run shot, his first home run with Arizona, provided some breathing room, but evidently not enough.

Pfaadt’s outing ended with a stunning, game-tying three-run home run from Mickey Gasper, who entered this series with two career home runs in 92 MLB games. Gasper went yard in all three contests against Arizona, and he knocked Pfaadt out of what looked like a quality start.

Pfaadt’s final line read 5.2 innings and five earned runs, which was not indicative of how he looked for most of the game. He struck out a season-high eight hitters. He drew 17 whiffs. He did not walk anyone.

But as had been the case for Pfaadt many times through the previous two seasons, that one untimely slug cost him.

The Red Sox snapped Pfaadt’s streak without an earned run at 32.2 innings and scored more runs off him than he had allowed over his previous six starts combined (39 IP, 4 ER).

The bullpen picked him up, however, with 4.1 innings and no earned runs. Jonathan Loaisiga was crucial, throwing a scoreless ninth inning and holding the Red Sox to the irrelevant ghost runner with a two-run lead in the 10th.

General manager Mike Hazen told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke before the game that his team had to separate from the adversity and play well, and Wednesday was a much more complete performance beyond Boston’s home runs.

The D-backs will get an off day with much to figure out before they hit the field on Friday.

Bottom of the order steps up

Fernandez was called up in a pinch with Marte going on the restricted list Monday (he was in Boston just in case Arenado needed to go on the IL), and he recorded hits in all three games at Fenway Park.

The 22-year-old hit two doubles on Wednesday, but staying disciplined to draw a walk with the bases loaded while the Boston crowd grew louder was a growth moment for a player who had been prone to chase. Red Sox reliever Jovani Moran delivered back-to-back fastballs above the zone, and Fernandez held off.

Ryan Waldschmidt went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, although he bounced into the inning-ending double play in the 10th.

Diamondbacks-Reds probables

Friday: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (12-4, 2.71) vs. LHP Nick Lodolo (3-2, 4.52)

Saturday: RHP Mike Soroka (8-3, 2.93) vs. RHP Rhett Lowder (4-8, 5.17)

Sunday: LHP Mitch Bratt (1-2, 4.17) vs. LHP Andrew Abbott (6-8, 4.07)

Friday will mark the return to Chase Field for Eugenio Suarez, an All-Star for the Diamondbacks last season.

Related

Exclusive: Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen to meet with Ketel Marte with hope he returnsNolan Arenado back in Diamondbacks’ lineup Wednesday vs. Red SoxKetel Marte’s agent: 2B wants to return ‘soon as possible,’ calls D-backs’ support ‘unwavering’Merrill Kelly continues concerning trend, Diamondbacks lose series in Boston with no MarteDiamondbacks send Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on rehab assignmentWill Ketel Marte torpedo D-backs’ season, Torey Lovullo’s job?