Key Takeaways
- Adrian Del Castillo powered the Arizona Diamondbacks with a two‑run home run in the 10th inning, finishing the game with five RBI and his first home run of the season.
- Arizona won 8‑5 over Baltimore, improving to 6‑3 on a nine‑game road trip that included series wins against the Mets, Phillies and Orioles.
- Jeremiah Jackson led the Orioles offense with a three‑RBI night, including a two‑run homer in the fifth inning.
- The game featured multiple lead changes, a bunt single, a stolen‑base‑advancing double, and a controversial two‑run triple that was initially ruled an error.
- Arizona’s bullpen sealed the victory: Ryan Thompson earned the win with a perfect ninth, and Juan Morillo recorded his first save with a scoreless 10th.
- Both starting pitchers logged solid outings—Eduardo Rodriguez (5 IP, 4 R, 3 K) for Arizona and Kyle Bradish (6 IP, 4 R, 3 K) for Baltimore—while the Orioles suffered their first back‑to‑back losses of the season.
The Arizona Diamondbacks snapped a two‑game skid with an 8‑5 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park on Wednesday night, a win that highlighted both timely hitting and solid bullpen work. Adrian Del Castillo emerged as the offensive catalyst, delivering a two‑run home run in the top of the 10th inning that broke a 4‑4 tie and ultimately accounted for five RBI on the night. His blast came off Tyler Wells, who entered the game with a 0‑1 record, and it marked Del Castillo’s first home run of the 2024 season. Earlier in the contest, he had also launched a two‑run triple in the third inning that ricocheted off left‑fielder Weston Wilson’s glove; the play was initially scored as an error before being updated to a triple, further underscoring his impact.
Baltimore’s response was spearheaded by Jeremiah Jackson, who powered a two‑run homer in the fifth inning and added an RBI single later in the game, finishing with three RBI overall. Jackson’s effort kept the Orioles within striking distance throughout, but the Diamondbacks’ ability to manufacture runs in key moments proved decisive. After a scoreless sixth, the Orioles seized a brief lead in the bottom of the seventh when Grant Wolfram surrendered a bunt single to Ketel Marte and a double to Corbin Carroll. Two batters later, Del Castillo struck a chopper off Wolfram’s glove, leaving shortstop Gunnar Henderson with only a play at first and allowing Marte to score, putting Arizona ahead 5‑4. The Orioles answered immediately in the bottom of the inning when Leody Taveras delivered an RBI pinch single off Kevin Ginkel to knot the score at 4‑4.
The game remained deadlocked until the extra innings, where Arizona’s bullpen shone. Ryan Thompson retired the side in order in the ninth to earn the win, improving his record to 1‑0. In the 10th, Juan Morillo recorded his first career save by shutting down the Orioles without allowing a run, striking out the side and preserving the Diamondbacks’ lead. Morillo’s performance was especially notable given his recent call‑up from Triple‑A Reno, where he had been working to refine his command.
On the mound, Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez logged five innings, surrendering four runs (including Jackson’s two‑run shot) while striking out three and walking none. His outing kept the Diamondbacks in the game despite early trouble, and he departed with the score tied at 2‑2 after the Orioles’ third‑inning rally. Baltimore’s Kyle Bradish matched Rodriguez’s length, working a season‑high six innings, giving up four runs and striking out three. Bradish’s effort was solid enough to keep the Orioles competitive, but the bullpen could not hold the late‑inning surge from Arizona.
The victory lifted Arizona to a 6‑3 record on its nine‑game road swing, which included series wins over the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and now the Orioles. The Diamondbacks will now return home for a six‑game homestand, opening Friday with right‑hander Michael Soroka (3‑0, 2.87 ERA) slated to face the Toronto Blue Jays. Conversely, Baltimore’s loss marked their first back‑to‑back defeats of the season, snapping a brief stretch of consistency. The Orioles will begin a seven‑game road trip Thursday, with Shane Baz (0‑1, 4.50 ERA) taking the ball at Cleveland.
Overall, the game exemplified how timely hitting—especially from Del Castillo—and a reliable bullpen can turn a tightly contested affair into a decisive win, while also highlighting the Areas where both clubs can improve as they continue their respective schedules.