PHOENIX — Despite a strong start on the mound and at the plate, the Arizona Diamondbacks couldn’t hold off the Tampa Bay Rays in a back-and-forth matchup Thursday night, ultimately falling 7-4 in extra innings at Chase Field.
Starter Corbin Burnes appeared solid early, but a shaky fifth inning allowed the Rays to get on the board. Burnes issued two walks before surrendering an RBI that cut the D-backs’ lead to 3-1. He managed to escape the jam by striking out Danny Jansen with a runner on second.
Arizona responded in the bottom half of the fifth, as Tim Tara homered on a 1-1 pitch to extend the lead to 4-1.
Burnes ran into more trouble in the sixth after a fielding error allowed Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero to reach second and score Yandy Díaz, narrowing the lead to 4-2. That would mark the end of Burnes’ night. Reliever Jalen Beeks entered with two runners on, and Rays’ Christopher Morel promptly doubled, scoring Brandon Lowe to bring the score to 4-3.
The D-backs’ defense faltered again in the seventh, with a pair of errors keeping the Rays alive in the inning. Arizona’s bullpen held firm, maintaining the slim one-run lead into the eighth.
Throwing errors continued to plague the D-backs, as Eugenio Suárez’s overthrow allowed Caminero to reach second in the eighth. Still, Ryne Nelson delivered two crucial strikeouts to preserve the 4-3 lead.
Nelson couldn’t close it out in the ninth, as the Rays capitalized on his struggles to tie the game 4-4, sending it to extra innings.
Tampa Bay exploded for 3 runs in the 10th, while Arizona would remain unresponsive. The Rays claimed the series win 7-4.
D-backs pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts in the loss.
Next game: Arizona kicks off a three-game home series against the Atlanta Braves on Friday, April 25. Zac Gallen will take the mound for the D-backs against Braves left-hander Chris Sale.
Where to watch: Fans can tune in on 12News for the debut of the D-backs’ new regional broadcast partnership. Coverage will reach audiences across Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and parts of Nevada.
Post-game entertainment: Stick around after the game for a live Country Night performance by singer-songwriter Scotty Hasting.
Check local listings for full game and concert details at www.mlb.com/dbacks.
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