Under the warm Arizona sun, the Diamondbacks squared off against the Texas Rangers at Salt River Fields, wrapping up their penultimate spring training game of 2026. The lineup featured familiar faces, with Brian McCann behind the plate and Tim Tawa at third, while Nolan Arenado took on the designated hitter role and Corbin Carroll enjoyed a day off. Ryne Nelson took the mound, facing former Rockie Austin Gomber in his final tune-up before the regular season kicks off.
Nelson delivered an impressive performance, pitching five shutout innings with seven strikeouts and no walks, allowing just four hits. His command was sharp, throwing 76 pitches, 45 of them strikes, and lowering his spring ERA to a solid 3.18.
Taylor Clarke and Paul Sewald each contributed a scoreless inning, with Isaiah Campbell being the sole blemish, surrendering two runs in the eighth. Ryan Giestling, a promising lefty from the farm system, closed it out with a scoreless ninth, earning his second save of the spring.
Offensively, the Diamondbacks gave Nelson an early cushion in the third inning. Jordan Lawlar singled, Ketel Marte doubled, and Alek Thomas launched a three-run homer to right center.
Lawlar seems to be finding his groove at the plate, and Thomas is making a strong case for his spot in the outfield. Nolan Arenado added to the tally with a solo shot to left in the sixth off Jalen Beeks, who's vying for a spot in the Rangers' bullpen.
The team capped their scoring in the eighth with back-to-back doubles from Ildemaro Vargas and Jean Harvin Walters.
Earlier in the day, the Diamondbacks' prospects faced off against the Rockies' young guns, dominating with a 10-3 victory. LuJames Groover, Druw Jones, and Jose Fernandez all contributed with hits, showcasing the depth of talent in the pipeline. Wellington Aracena, acquired from Baltimore, pitched three solid innings of one-run ball, offering a glimpse of his potential.
The Diamondbacks head to Peoria for their final spring training game against the Padres. Joe Ross, a non-roster invitee, will take the mound against San Diego's Walker Buehler, who recently secured his spot on the Padres' roster. It's a final chance to fine-tune before the real action begins.