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Adrian Del Castillo's big day leads Diamondbacks to win over O's
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- Adrian Del Castillo's big day leads Diamondbacks to win over O's
BALTIMORE — Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo knew once he decided to have Geraldo Perdomo sacrifice in the top of the 10th inning with Corbin Carroll on second base, that he had the right guy coming up to bat after Perdomo.
It was catcher Adrian Del Castillo , who had already tripled and driven in three runs. Del Castillo had come up big in Philadelphia days earlier in a late-game situation, and he was making contact with at least one hit and one RBI in five of his past six games.
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Del Castillo made major contact with his tiebreaking two-run home run to center field that sent the Diamondbacks to an 8-5 win over the Orioles on Wednesday afternoon, April 15, in the series finale at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
"I knew that Del had had a good day, and I felt very comfortable asking (Perdomo) to do that," Lovullo said, "knowing that he was going to be able to execute, and he did."
Del Castillo credited the work he's done in the batting cage on his swing.
"Definitely feel like I'm in a good spot. Every day it's getting better," he said. "Seeing the ball a little bit slower."
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The home run capped off a big day for the Diamondbacks catcher/DH. He hit his first home run of the season, recorded his first career triple and drove in five runs.
The Diamondbacks had three one-run leads as they wrapped up a nine-game East Coast road trip. But they saved their most important inning of offense for the extra frame.
After Del Castillo homered and with two outs, Ildemaro Vargas doubled and Nolan Arenado drove him in with a base hit.
The Diamondbacks (11-8) went 6-3 on the trip with series wins over the New York Mets , Philadelphia Phillies and Orioles.
"We're tested and we're ready, we're prepared and we don't back down," Lovullo said after yet another close game involving his team. "We expect to win close games. I think everybody should have that mentality. ... I'm watching us do it every single night."
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The Diamondbacks took a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh when Ketel Marte singled and Carroll doubled. A one-out ground ball from Del Castillo drove in Marte.
Baltimore tied it in the bottom of the inning against Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel , who allowed a run on two hits with four strikeouts in two innings of work on Jackie Robinson Day.
Taylor Clarke pitched a perfect eighth, Ryan Thompson (1-0) got the win with a scoreless ninth and righty Juan Morillo earned his first save of the season with a scoreless 10th inning.
"We were thinned out in the bullpen," Lovullo said. "Without that second inning for Ginkel, it doesn't line up the way it did."
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Ginkel relieved starter Eduardo Rodriguez , who had his first rough outing of the season. Rodriguez allowed four runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts through five innings.
"If we're playing as a team then everybody's a hero every day and that's what makes a good team," Rodriguez said. "I know my command was all over the place all day. My pitches weren't under control. That happens. We aren't going to have good days."
A two-run home run for Jeremiah Jackson , who hit two home runs two days earlier against the Diamondbacks, put the Orioles ahead 4-3. Jackson hit his home run in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs against Rodriguez.
Sixth-inning singles by Jose Fernandez and Arenado set up Alek Thomas , who drove in the tying run on a groundout to make it 4-4.
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Jorge Barrosa 's double that hit the chalk on the right field foul line drove in Thomas in the top of the fourth inning for a 3-2 Arizona lead.
Del Castillo's two-run triple in the top of the third inning gave the Diamondbacks a brief 2-1 lead, but the Orioles tied it on a two-out single by Jackson in the bottom of the inning.
Del Castillo's ball looked to be caught by Baltimore left fielder Weston Wilson , but the line drive glanced off his glove in front of an angled section of the outfield fence.
Originally the hit was scored a three-base error with no runs batted in for Del Castillo, but was shortly thereafter changed to a triple.
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Smith to have surgery
Diamondbacks 1B/DH Pavin Smith is scheduled for left elbow surgery on Thursday, April 16 in Arizona, the club confirmed on Wednesday.
Smith was transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list with elbow inflammation on Tuesday, April 14. The Diamondbacks have gone mainly with Fernandez and Vargas at first base in the absence of Smith and Carlos Santana , who is on the 10-day IL with a strained adductor.
Marte back in lineup
Marte, who missed the team's Tuesday night game with back tightness, was getting treatment from trainers 2 1/2 hours before first pitch on Wednesday, April 15, with him and the team unsure whether he would be able to play.
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Then, about 90 minutes before the game, the team listed Marte as the day's designated hitter, batting leadoff.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Marte slept uncomfortably on the team hotel bed in Baltimore.
"He said it was a little bit too soft for him, and he knew after Day 1 that it might be a problem," Lovullo said. "We all know what that's like. You could be a businessman on a trip or a businesswoman on a business trip and wake up with a bad back. We're not exempt from that. I think that's where it got him."
Marte's home run marker
Beyond the iron fence in right field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards lies Eutaw Street, where there are baseball plaques to mark the spots where home runs have been hit out of the stadium and onto the famous thoroughfare.
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Scrawled onto the street's concrete is a roughly drawn marker where Marte will get a plaque of his own in the very spot where his leadoff home run on Monday night landed. It's a bit farther back and closer to the warehouse building on the other side of the street. Most balls have been hit closer to the fence.
Marte is the 71st player from an opposing team to hit a home run onto Eutaw Street, and also the most recent player to do so.
McCann basks in appreciation from Orioles fans
James McCann stepped into the batter's box for his first at-bat of the game on Tuesday, April 14, against the Orioles, and while being announced over the public address system, some in the crowd at Camden Yards rose to their feet in applause and cheers.
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Quickly, it seemed everyone was roaring, so much so that McCann stepped out of the box and doffed his helmet to the fans in appreciation.
McCann was almost moved to tears by the gesture. The 11-year veteran catcher spent just two seasons in Baltimore, 2023 and 2024, but was there for the rise of the franchise with its young core, which McCann helped to guide.
"That was really special," McCann said. "I'm not a very emotional person, but that was a moment where I could feel some tears coming on. I'm getting chills right now just thinking about it. Just to know how much I was appreciated here from the fans of Baltimore, I appreciate them as much as they appreciate me."
McCann, whose Orioles teams made the postseason in the two seasons he was there, said his children can remember the experience.
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McCann said he feels that the way he went about his business being an example for younger teammates, plus the moment on July 29, 2024, when he took a fastball to his face and did not come out of the game, is what endeared him to the Orioles fans.
He fell to the ground but got up and, after putting some gauze in his nose, somehow made his way to first base and continued playing.
"That's kind of what really put it over the top," he said.
"It's a tale of two cities. He got booed in New York, and I didn't understand that one," Lovullo said. "James McCann is one of the nicest human beings I've ever met.
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"It's a great moment and I get it. ... Baltimore, I feel like their fans have always been appreciative of good baseball."
Coming up
Thursday, April 16:Off.
Friday, April 17:At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (3-0, 2.87) vs. Blue Jays LHP Eric Lauer (1-2, 7.82).
Saturday, April 18:At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (1-1, 3.60) vs. Blue Jays RHP Max Scherzer (1-2, 9.58).
Sunday, April 19: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (1-1, 3.54) vs. Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (0-1, 2.42 ERA).
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Adrian Del Castillo shines in DBacks' win over Orioles to end trip
