Carroll’s two-run blast in ninth lifts Diamondbacks over Marlins, 8-7
Corbin Carroll pulled a splitter over the right-field fence for his 21st homer with one out in the ninth, capping a comeback that erased a late three-run deficit and kept Arizona within 2 1/2 games of the final NL wild card.
PHOENIX — Corbin Carroll delivered the decisive swing, drilling a winning, two-run homer with one out in the ninth to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks to an 8-7 victory over the Miami Marlins. Carroll pulled a splitter from reliever Jack Ralston (0-1) over the right-field fence for his 21st homer of the season, a timely blow after a prolonged slump since the All-Star break in which he hit just .214.
The late rally featured a pair of big swings. Jordan Lawlar hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Tyler Zuber to cut the D-backs' deficit to 7-6, and Carroll’s ninth-inning shot turned a one-run hole into an 8-7 lead. Corbin Burnes was touched for five runs over 4 2/3 innings, including back-to-back homers by Jakob Marsee and Javier Sanoja, while Miami starter Sandy Alcantara allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings and struck out six.
The ninth inning unfolded chaotically: Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks started the frame, walked leadoff hitter Gabriel Moreno and threw one pitch to Geraldo Perdomo before leaving with an apparent injury. Ralston entered and retired Perdomo on a sacrifice bunt before Carroll’s homer that stayed just inside the right-field foul pole. Alcantara finished his outing by escaping a one-out, bases-loaded jam when he struck out Nolan Arenado and retired Tim Tawa on a flyout. Alcantara has thrown 205 innings this season, the most in the big leagues, and Juan Morillo (4-4) struck out the side in the ninth.