D-backs finish largest comeback in team history in Corbin Carroll’s debut

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll dug in with the bases loaded in a 7-7 game during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.

Just hours after getting called up to the big leagues, Carroll had an opportunity to give Arizona its first lead of the night after it trailed 7-0.

On a 2-2 count, the D-backs’ top prospect bent down and sliced a low breaking ball the other way, into the left-center field gap at Chase Field.

Two runs scored and Carroll coasted into second base for his first major league hit. He stuck his chest out to the D-backs’ dugout, a custom the team has when players get big hits this season.

The D-backs (60-67) expanded their lead and held on for a 13-7 victory, completing the largest comeback in franchise history.

“Falling down 7-0 is nothing that you ever predict, nothing you ever want to be a part of … but our guys just locked in from an offensive standpoint,” manager Torey Lovullo said postgame. “There’s so many things that stand out to me …  eight walks, 13 runs, timely hitting. It was a really, really nice comeback, really proud of these guys.”

After the @dbacks trailed 7-0, Corbin Carroll gives them the lead with his first Major League hit! pic.twitter.com/TUyZKT07pV

— MLB (@MLB) August 30, 2022

Corbin’s go-ahead hit came amidst a middle-innings barrage by the D-backs’ offense.

The D-backs went from down 7-0 in the top of the fourth to up 12-7 in the bottom of the fifth. They brought up 22 hitters in the fourth and fifth innings, scoring six runs in each frame.

Emmanuel Rivera broke the shutout with an RBI double to right in the fourth, and Carson Kelly cut Arizona’s deficit to one with a three-run double five batters later.

Kelly’s double chased Phillies southpaw Ranger Suarez from the game after he started with three hitless innings.

The D-backs tied the game in the fifth via Jake McCarthy hit-by-pitch, setting up Carroll for his breaking into the big leagues moment.

Kelly then brought in his fourth run in two innings to give Arizona a 10-7 lead, and two bases-loaded walks continued the nightmare for Philadelphia.

The D-backs never scored six runs in consecutive innings before Monday.

Rookie left fielder Stone Garrett capped Arizona’s offense in the eighth inning with a solo home run just inside the left-field foul pole.

Carroll finished the night 1-for-5.

“A lot of things I was happy about, a lot of things to learn from and go out there and try to find a way to help the team win tomorrow,” Carroll said postgame.

Lots of baseball left in this one.

The #Dbacks put up a 6-spot in the 4th! pic.twitter.com/HArLwUKxT0

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 30, 2022

The win was Arizona’s fourth in a row and fifth in six games.

The Phillies (72-57) timed up D-backs starter Madison Bumgarner early, as the first four balls hit into play left the bat at over 100 mph, according to Statcast.

Bumgarner got the nod after skipping a start, but he started the game allowing four runs scored in the first three innings. He wasn’t helped out by his defense in the first, though, as Carroll missed a sliding catch and Geraldo Perdomo misplayed a ground ball.

Bumgarner exited the game with two outs in the fourth inning after allowing a three-run moonshot to Kyle Schwarber, a single to Rhys Hoskins and a 113 mph double to Bryce Harper. Bumgarner allowed 11 hits to 22 batters.

“Definitely missed over the middle of the plate more times than I would like,” Bumgarner said. “I really think that’s all it was tonight.”

The southpaw has a 9.31 ERA in August.

The D-backs’ bullpen picked him up, though, as Luis Frias shut out the Phillies through 2.1 frames and Caleb Smith, fresh off the injured list, tossed two scoreless.

Frias was helped out by a Christian Walker snag, as the MLB leader in first base defensive runs saved leaped up to spear a 111.7 mph liner by Schwarber to lead off the sixth.

Give this man the Gold Glove right now. pic.twitter.com/2KF2UkDc3t

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 30, 2022

Reyes Moronta finished the ballgame with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Lovullo said the dugout was quiet when the team was down 7-0, but the players refocused to pick themselves up. He felt that it takes a hungry team to do that.

“We talk about franchise firsts and biggest and historical things like that, I’m proud of that,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “When we are churning and pushing every single day to make good things happen and when it’s validated by this type of victory, it’s a nice feeling.”

UP NEXT

The D-backs go for a second straight series victory Tuesday as Zac Gallen takes the hill looking to cap a dominant month (0.82 ERA in August). He’ll face Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola at 6:40 p.m.

Tune in on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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