Powered by a four-run rally in the bottom of the 3rd, the Arizona Diamondbacks ended a three-game skid with a 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Ryne Nelson, who recorded a 5.31 ERA in his rookie season last year, started for Arizona. This afternoon, Nelson pitched three innings, yielding two earned runs on five hits and a walk.
Nelson navigated the first three innings with relative ease. However, the 4th inning began with a leadoff walk and was quickly followed by a pair of singles, leading to Nelson’s exit and the subsequent scoring of two baserunners.
The Diamondbacks took the lead first when Eugenio Suarez scored on a throwing error in the 2nd inning. Then, in the third, Suarez extended their lead with a 422-foot home run to left center, bringing Ketel Marte and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. home.
Although the Diamondbacks’ offense cooled down after Suarez’s home run, the effort was sufficient as the bullpen took over from Nelson, allowing just one run over six innings.
Andrew Saalfrank, Arizona’s postseason hero in 2023, faced some challenges in the ninth with a couple of walks but secured the win by striking out one and inducing a groundout to end the game.
With a much-needed day off ahead after a grueling stretch of 12 games in 12 days, the Diamondbacks will return to action on Thursday against the Texas Rangers, featuring Zac Gallen’s debut in the 2024 Cactus League.
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