The Diamondbacks’ trip through the National League Wild Card race took another hit Monday night, and this one came in the worst possible way: a walk-off loss in Pittsburgh.
Arizona dropped its third straight game against a fellow Wild Card contender when Brandon Lowe drove in the winning run with a single that deflected off the glove of first baseman Ildemaro Vargas. Taylor Clarke took the loss on the play, and the Diamondbacks were left to shake off another missed opportunity in extra innings.
They had a real shot to flip the night in the 10th. A throwing error by Pirates third baseman Nick Gonzales opened the door and put Arizona in business with runners on second and third and one out.
But Gabriel Moreno, who has been the club’s hottest hitter, struck out looking on the 11th pitch of the at-bat. After Ketel Marte was intentionally walked, Max Kepler - fresh off three hits on Monday - sent a line drive to center that stayed in the air just long enough to end the threat.
The game was tied earlier when Arizona’s bullpen let a 2-1 lead slip away in the eighth. With two outs, Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds delivered back-to-back doubles off Jonathan Loaisiga to pull Pittsburgh even.
Reynolds’ at-bat came with a little more chaos than usual. Pirates manager Donnie Kelly was ejected by third-base umpire Ben May after what was described as a complaint over check-swing calls that had gone against Reynolds.
The loss added more frustration to what players had called the most important road trip of the season, and the Diamondbacks have now fallen three straight against direct postseason competition.
Off the field, there was more Diamondbacks noise around Connelly Early and a possible trade with Boston. Arizona reportedly discussed this kind of deal with the Red Sox, though it was not stated whether Early himself was the target. Boston, according to the reporting, was not interested because of the type of players Arizona was willing to move, preferring a more major-league-ready piece rather than hitters viewed as closer to prospects than everyday bats.
There was also a brief scare around Ketel Marte after he wiped nearly all of his Instagram feed over the weekend. As of Monday morning, Arizona is not looking to trade Marte, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.
Torey Lovullo also pushed back on the tension talk, saying, “First, I don’t even know what scrubbing is,” Lovullo told reporters, according to MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert. “I don’t get it.
I mean, I’m a baseball manager. I’ve connected with Ketel just to find out how he’s doing.
Everything is in a good spot. I know that everybody wants to make some drama that’s taking place here.
It’s nothing like it seems.”
In Other News...
Diamondbacks May Finally Have A Real First Base Answer
The first-base picture in Arizona had been a headache for much of the season, with the position lagging offensively through mid-July and forcing the club to keep cycling through options. Since Pavin Smith was designated for assignment, the conversation has narrowed to Ildemaro Vargas, Tim Tawa and Tyler Locklear, a trio that gives the Diamondbacks at least a more workable set of choices than the revolving door they were dealing with earlier.
Vargas has stood out as the steadiest glove in the group, and that matters for a team trying to get more certainty out of a spot that has been anything but settled. The encouraging part is that the bats have also looked better since July 10, which gives Arizona a chance to build something more stable there if it can sort out how to balance defense, handedness and the rest of the lineup moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks May Have Quietly Avoided A Trade Deadline Gut Punch
The Red Soxs decision to send Connelly Early to Washington instead of Arizona may end up looking like a small but meaningful break for the Diamondbacks. Reports indicate Boston turned away Arizonas interest in the left-hander and ultimately preferred Curtis Mead in the deal, a sign the Red Sox wanted a more established return than whatever package was on the table from Phoenix.
For Arizona, the bigger takeaway may be what it did not have to surrender in a deadline chase. Ryan Waldschmidt, the young bat who could have been the kind of prospect Boston covets in a deal like this, was not part of the public discussion, and that alone hints at how close the Diamondbacks may have come to a painful price tag. Whether they were ever truly in position to land Early is still the part left hanging. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks May Need To Take A Real Look At This Infielder
Arizonas infield depth chart has a way of turning up names that were easy to overlook a year ago, and this one fits that mold. The Diamondbacks pulled Danny Serretti from the Tigers in the AAA phase of the 2025 Rule 5 draft, a low-key move that barely registered at the time. After a rough run in Detroits farm system, he has looked far more comfortable in Arizonas minor league affiliates this season, showing a better feel at the plate and a more disciplined approach that has put him back on the radar.
What makes Serretti worth tracking now is that the offensive gains have come alongside a clearer defensive lane. He has mostly settled in at second base since joining the organization, giving the Diamondbacks a look at a player who is no longer trying to do too much or cover too much ground. For a club that always has to balance immediate roster needs with the next wave of depth, that kind of quiet development can matter, especially if the bat continues to trend in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]