The Arizona Diamondbacks had a rollercoaster season in 2023, with both highs and lows. They had a tendency to bounce back from tough stretches, which was evident in their come-from-behind wins against the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card Series. The Diamondbacks swept the Brewers with a 5-2 win in the final game. They will now face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, starting on Saturday.
The Diamondbacks’ Game 1 rally was unexpected and surprising. Despite the Brewers taking a 3-0 lead, the Diamondbacks came back with a two-run homer from Corbin Carroll and a game-tying homer from Ketel Marte. Gabriel Moreno hit a home run in the next inning, giving the Diamondbacks the lead.
In Game 2, the Brewers seemed to be in control with pitcher Freddy Peralta dominating the game. However, the Diamondbacks quickly turned the tide with a homer from Alek Thomas and a walk to Geraldo Perdomo. Corbin Carroll’s double and Ketel Marte’s single gave the Diamondbacks the lead once again.
The Brewers’ struggles in both games played a part in the Diamondbacks’ success. In Game 1, the Brewers left multiple runners on base and allowed the Diamondbacks to extend their lead with a run-scoring wild pitch and a blooper hit. In Game 2, the Diamondbacks capitalized on the opportunities given to them.
The Diamondbacks’ pitching rotation is led by Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, who have performed well throughout the season. The rest of the rotation is not as remarkable, but there are reliable relievers like Paul Sewald, Kevin Ginkel, and Andrew Saalfrank. On the position player side, Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte stand out, but the team as a whole prides itself on versatility, excellent defense, base-stealing ability, and power hitters like Lourdes Gurreil Jr. and Christian Walker.
Manager Torey Lovullo has been guiding the Diamondbacks for seven years and has brought stability to the team. Despite a rough season in 2021, the organization chose to stick with Lovullo, and now they are reaping the rewards with a fun underdog team that thrives on coming from behind.
