The Diamondbacks came into Sunday with plenty to clean up after a rough stretch that has seen their pitching staff give up 20 runs over the last two games. A win over the Red Sox would still get them to a 3-3 road trip, though, and with Brandon Pfaadt starting on the mound, there’s at least reason to think this one could look different from the first two stops in Atlanta and Boston.
Arizona is also carrying one more bit of odd history with it from the opener in Atlanta. In that 2-0 win, the D-backs went 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position, and that turned out to be a franchise record in a regulation victory.
The only game even close was a 2-1 win over the Phillies on May 9, 2013, when they went 0-for-12 with RISP. The club has also gone 0-for-9 six times, most recently in a 3-1 win over the Padres on July 17, 2022.
That Atlanta game wasn’t just unusual for Arizona. According to samath’s dive through the numbers, it also stood as the highest such mark in MLB in 2026.
The Guardians were next at 0-for-12 in a 4-2 win over the Brewers on June 18. Since the Diamondbacks entered the league in 1998, the biggest RISP drought in a team win came in the Mariners’ 2-0 victory over the Astros on August 18, 2023, when Seattle went 0-for-17.
The lineups for the game were set with Ildemaro Vargas leading off at second for Arizona, followed by Corbin Carroll in right, Gabriel Moreno behind the plate, Geraldo Perdomo at short, Nolan Arenado at DH, Tim Tawa at first, Jordan Lawlar in center, Jose Fernandez at third and Ryan Waldschmidt in left. Brandon Pfaadt got the ball for the Diamondbacks, while Payton Tolle started for Boston. The Red Sox countered with Nick Sogard at second, Ceddanne Rafaela in center, Wilyer Abreu in right, Willson Contreras at first, Caleb Durbin at third, Mickey Gasper at DH, Andruw Monasterio at short, Jarren Duran in left and Connor Wong catching.
In Other News...
Diamondbacks Return Home With More Turbulence Than Fans Expected
The Diamondbacks were already navigating an uneasy week before their return trip ever left the runway, with All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte landing on the restricted list for an undisclosed reason and missing the first two games against the Red Sox. Arizona managed to steady itself enough to win the finale, but the off-field uncertainty had already given the homestand a jarring feel.
Then the flight home added another layer of disruption. The clubs charter plane could not land in Phoenix because of a storm and was diverted to Las Vegas, where the team stayed overnight before planning to make the final leg back to Arizona the next morning. For a team trying to put a tricky stretch behind it, even the travel schedule has turned into part of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Just Lost Another Bullpen Arm With Something To Prove
Another arm with some intrigue has slipped away from the Diamondbacks, as right-hander Andrew Hoffmann is moving on after being claimed off waivers by the Phillies. Philadelphia sent him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley right away, a sign the organization still sees a reliever worth keeping in the fold as it sorts out its bullpen depth.
For Arizona, it is another reminder of how quickly fringe pitching depth can disappear, especially when a pitcher has shown enough in the majors and minors to draw attention elsewhere. The roster move also came with a corresponding shuffle in Philadelphia, where Felix Reyes was recalled and placed on the 60-day injured list with a right-wrist fracture, while Hoffmann gets a fresh chance to keep pushing his way back toward a big-league role. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Escape A Messy Win As Wild Card Pressure Builds
Brandon Pfaadts night was rough from the start, as the Diamondbacks right-hander gave up three home runs and saw his outing end on a three-run blast. Even so, Arizona kept itself in the game, and the offense finally broke through with a fifth- and sixth-inning rally that turned an early hole into a lead, with Gabriel Moreno, Torey Lovullo and Nolan Arenado all turning in key hits to help steady a lineup that needed it.
The finish was just as messy as the beginning, and in a wild-card race, that kind of win can feel equal parts relief and warning sign. Arizona tacked on more in extra innings after Boston reliever Jovani Moran lost the strike zone, a reminder that the Diamondbacks are finding ways to survive right now even when the margins are thin and the stress level keeps climbing. [Read more 🡒]