Next time, it counts. But this time? Not so much.
Michael Soroka had a rough outing, giving up as many hits as outs-ten of each. The D-backs let the Guardians rack up thirteen unanswered runs over two games before finally getting on the board at Chase Field for the first time in 2026.
Soroka's performance, with eighty pitches and multiple innings cut short, wasn't the confidence booster he needed before the regular season. His final line of ten hits, two walks, six earned runs, and five strikeouts in 3.1 innings paints a challenging picture.
And to add context, eight of those ten hits had exit velocities over 100 mph, showing he was getting hit hard.
The rest of the pitching staff had mixed results. Spencer Giesting delivered 1.2 scoreless innings, and Andrew Hoffmann kept the seventh inning clean, while Juan Morillo allowed a run in the eighth.
Unlike the previous game, Arizona did manage to score, putting up four runs in the fourth inning. Pavin Smith and James McCann each contributed with a run-scoring single, and Jordan Lawlar added a pair with a single of his own.
McCann and Tim Tawa both had two hits, but despite these efforts, Arizona wrapped up their 2025 preseason with a 15-15 record and one tie.
Now, they’re off to Los Angeles, with Zac Gallen ready to kick off the regular season against the Dodgers on Thursday night. The real games are about to begin, and the D-backs will be looking to make a statement.