On Friday night against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field, Adrian del Castillo batted first in the bottom of the ninth inning and blasted the first pitch he saw for a powerful walk-off home run — his first career home run — to lead the Diamondbacks to a 3-2 victory.
Rookie Del Castillo, playing in just his second game since being activated last week, smashed a 97-mph fastball down the middle from Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman into right field. It was an unquestionable shot from the moment it left Del Castillo’s bat.
The hit sealed the victory for the Diamondbacks. Right-hander Ryne Nelson had a dominant night, pitching 7 1/3 innings, allowing just two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out nine.
If this was Nelson’s final start before being removed from the rotation, he would be the pitcher most likely to cede a spot to right-hander Merrill Kelly, who is scheduled to return from the disabled list on Sunday, and he would have made his exit in style.
Joc Pederson hit his 19th home run of the year in the third inning, a solo homer that gave the Diamondbacks a 2-0 lead against Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler.
Bryce Harper hit a solo homer in the seventh to cut the lead to 2-1, but the Phillies tied the game one inning later on an RBI double by Johan Rojas off reliever A.J. Pack.
With the win, the Diamondbacks improved to 25-10 since June 29th.
—Nick Piero
Ryne Nelson is doing great, Joc Pederson homers against the Phillies
Right-hander Ryne Nelson pitched a dominant five innings, Joc Pederson hit his 19th home run of the year and the Diamondbacks took a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night at Chase Field.
Nelson’s pitching was as explosive as it has been this year, throwing fastballs in the mid-to-upper 90s against a powerful Phillies lineup, allowing just one hit and walking zero batters in five innings.
Nelson has made a strong case for right-hander Merrill Kelly to remain in the starting rotation when he returns from the disabled list on Sunday.
Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte was left out of the lineup for Friday’s game against the Phillies.
Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was left out of the lineup for Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Zack Wheeler, a day after the manager said he was “a little tired.”
Marte was 0-for-4 with one walk and three strikeouts on Thursday night, and manager Torey Lovullo suggested after the game that Marte’s strain, which included playing second base in both games of Wednesday’s doubleheader at Cleveland, contributed to his hitting struggles.
“You have to be really mindful of your guys and their workload,” Lovullo said Friday. “Ketell is certainly being very mindful of his body and his mind. He needs rest. He’s played a lot of baseball. He’s played at a high level.”
Lovullo said first baseman Christian Walker still blamed himself for an oblique injury, given that he had played nearly every game to that point this year, and noted other players, including third baseman Eugenio Suarez, also needed several days of rest.
—Nick Piero
AZ Sports News: The Phoenix Suns will host the Denver Nuggets in the second half looking to end a three-game losing streak on Christmas Day.
Del Castillo will start as catcher.
Adrian del Castillo’s Chase Field debut was Friday, when the recent call-up from Reno was inserted into the Diamondbacks lineup as catcher and batting fifth opposite Phillies All-Star Zack Wheeler.
The 24-year-old Miami native, the Diamondbacks’ second-round pick in the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft, made his major league debut in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday. He recorded his first major league hit and RBI in Arizona’s win.
Del Castillo’s father is in Cleveland, and his mother and grandparents traveled to Phoenix to watch Friday’s game. Del Castillo said he feels a promotion is on the way because of how well he’s been doing in Triple-A. In 100 games with Reno this season, he’s batting .319 with 36 doubles, three triples, 24 home runs, 70 RBI and 52 walks.
He celebrated his first MLB game by taking a liquid shower in the visitors’ clubhouse.
“Honestly, whether it’s a walk or a double, I just pass the baton. I just want to hit the ball and swing at good pitches,” Del Castillo said. “Game preparation is a lot more important here. It’s a must-win game every day.”
Del Castillo said he never got frustrated and just waited patiently for the call-up. When Gabriel Moreno went on the disabled list with an adductor strain early last week, the Diamondbacks needed a catcher and del Castillo was promoted.
“It’s unfortunate that Moreno got injured, but now the time has come for me and we have to make sure we still win games,” del Castillo said.
Moreno is likely out for at least a few weeks due to the injury.
Manager Tory Lovullo likes del Castillo’s approach as a hitter, and he said Jose Herrera might play a few more games than del Castillo because of his major league experience, but it will depend on the chemistry between the pitchers.
—Jose M. Romero
The Diamondbacks optioned Slade Cecconi and brought back Scott McGough
The Diamondbacks made some changes to their bullpen before Friday night’s game, sending right-hander Slade Cecconi to Triple-A Reno and recalling right-hander Scott McGough.
Cecconi gave up two runs over three innings on Thursday night and likely won’t be back on the mound for several days. He has given up five runs in 7 1/3 innings in his three relief appearances during his time in the majors.
McGough last pitched on Wednesday, needing 15 pitches to pitch a scoreless inning in Reno.
—Nick Piero
Saturday’s Diamondbacks-Phillies pitching showdown
Phillies vs. Diamondbacks, 5:10 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (9-5, 3.75) vs. Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (11-5, 3.54)
Chase Field: Since the All-Star break, Gallen is 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA (nine earned runs in 24 innings) and has held opponents to a .239 batting average in four starts with 12 walks and 20 strikeouts. The Diamondbacks have won Gallen’s last four starts and six of his last eight since June 20. Gallen is 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA in five regular-season starts against the Phillies. … Nola won last season against the Diamondbacks, allowing four runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out nine and walked one. For his career, Nola is 2-2 in five starts against Arizona but has a 7.67 ERA in 27 innings pitched. He struck out 29 and walked four.
next time
Sunday: Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (2-0, 2.19) vs. Phillies LHP Christopher Sanchez (8-7, 3.27).
Monday: Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Fudd (6-6, 3.92 ERA) vs. Rockies (TBD).
Tuesday: Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0, 4.76 ERA) vs. Rockies (TBD).