Grit Index: D-backs win longest game in franchise history
They say it’s a marathon, not a sprint. And the Arizona Diamondbacks took that to heart on Saturday night, needing seven hours, six minutes to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 12-7 in 18 innings in the longest game in franchise history.
For the second straight night, the D-backs’ bullpen failed them late. Joe Thatcher and Heath Bell combined to allow four runs in the eighth inning — squandering Arizona’s 7-3 lead.
The D-backs and Phillies then went 10 innings collectively without scoring a run.
Adam Eaton helped Arizona finally break through in the top of the 18th with a go-ahead double. The D-backs scored a total of five runs in the top of the frame against outfielder Casper Wells, who was brought in to pitched after Philadelphia ran out of hurlers. He was the first position player to pitch against the D-backs since Josh Wilson did so on June 7, 2009.
Wells only lasted 0.2 innings and was charged with all five runs in the 18th before being lifted for another position player, infielder John McDonald.
The Good:
Paul Goldschmidt set a D-backs franchise record for most RBI by a first baseman (101) with his groundout in the second inning. Adam LaRoche held the previous record with 100 RBI in 2010.
D-backs’ starter Randall Delgado saw his solid effort wasted. The right-hander surrendered three earned runs on three hits with six strikeouts and one walk in six innings of work. The D-backs’ hurler also held Philadelphia’s lineup hitless through the first four innings before allowing a solo home run to catcher Carlos Ruiz.
The Bad:
Bell surrendered a two-run home run to Darin Ruf — which tied the game at 7-7. The longball was the 10th allowed by the D-backs’ right-hander in 55 innings this season.
Phillies’ starter Ethan Martin didn’t make it out of the first inning. The right-hander lasted just 0.2 innings, after allowing three earned runs — and a home run — on three hits with three walks. He exited with the bases loaded.
Noted:
– D-backs’ second baseman Aaron Hill left the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with a groin injury.
– Arizona used 22 players in their 18-inning affair, which is tied for the second-most in franchise history. The D-backs and Phillies combined to use 20 pitchers total in the record-setting game.
– The D-backs are the first team in the majors to play three games of at least 16 innings since the Dodgers back in 1989.
– According to baseballreference.com, D-backs’ Tony Campana and Cliff Pennington are the first set of teammates to record five walks in a game since 1916.
Up Next:
The D-backs and Phillies will play the final game of their three game set on Sunday, August 25 at 10:35 a.m. MST. Left-hander Patrick Corbin (13-3, 2.45) will get the call for Arizona. He was scheduled to face right-hander Tyler Cloyd, however he was brought into Saturday’s game and won’t make his start. The game can be heard on Arizona Sports 620.
