CHICAGO -- These last three days in the Windy City felt less like a series for the Arizona Diamondbacks and instead a three-part episode of ¡°Survivor: Chicago.¡±
Fresh off a three-game sweep of the Marlins in sunny Miami, the Diamondbacks came to Chicago and were greeted by a devastating loss Friday in which they combined with the Cubs to score 16 runs in the eighth inning.
Saturday, they faced frigid temperatures and the wind blowing straight out and watched one of their aces struggle and one of their closers go on the injured list.
Finally, Sunday they were able to break through with a win despite not having their other closer available as they outlasted the Cubs, 3-2, in 11 innings in a game that had rain delays of 39 minutes and 59 minutes.
The good news for the Diamondbacks is that not only did they win the game, but they are now headed back home where warm temperatures and an off-day Monday will be waiting for them.
¡°You know, we're fighting some injuries, a little bit of weather, a little bit of cold, some transitions with some moves,¡± Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. ¡°A lot happened over these past 72 hours. So it'll be nice to get home, relax tomorrow, reload and let the boys go to work on Tuesday.¡±
Here are three things to know about Sunday¡¯s game:
Naylor delivers big hit and (almost) steals home
Both teams scored a run in the 10th inning, but in the 11th frame the D-backs scored the go-ahead run when Naylor led off with a single down the right-field line to drive in automatic runner, Geraldo Perdomo, from second.
Naylor found himself at third base later in the frame with two outs, Alek Thomas at first and pinch-hitter Gabriel Moreno at the plate.
With left-hander Jordan Wicks on the mound, Naylor attempted to steal home and came up just a tick short at home plate when Wicks was able to step off the mound without balking and deliver a strike to catcher Carson Kelly.
¡°He just threw a perfect pitch,¡± Naylor said. ¡° I'm going to take all those chances I can to change the game. I¡¯m not afraid to fail. Those are opportunities in the game where you have a lefty, he has his back facing you, I counted the seconds he was looking at first base -- upwards of five in between each pitch. So after two, three pitches, I just try to time it. And again, if he throws it a little bit high, little bit right, I'm safe.¡±
Merrill Kelly is OK
Merrill Kelly got the start for the Diamondbacks and waited out a 39-minute rain delay to start the game and another 59-minute delay three batters into the bottom of the first.
When play resumed, Kelly allowed a check-swing RBI single to Michael Busch before setting down a career-high 16 straight batters.
Kelly left the game with a 1-0 count on Seiya Suzuki after experiencing cramping in his right hamstring. Cramping has been an issue for Kelly on and off over the last two years. He and the training and nutrition staff have tried many different ways to combat it and they will continue to look.
¡°It¡¯s the same stuff I¡¯ve been dealing with,¡± Kelly said. ¡°Frustrating for sure. I feel fine right now, just going to try to get back to the drawing board and see if we can uncover a rock we haven¡¯t before.¡±
J-Mart was unavailable
One of the Diamondbacks¡¯ two closers, A.J. Puk, went on the injured list Saturday with inflammation in his pitching elbow. The other, Justin Martinez, was given Friday and Saturday off after pitching two of three games in Miami.
Sunday, though, he wasn¡¯t used in the extra-innings game and afterwards, Lovullo explained that Martinez is feeling some fatigue after a heavy early season workload. There is no injury, Lovullo said, they just want to give him a breather and expect him to be ready to go Tuesday.
¡°We have to be responsible here,¡± Lovullo said. ¡°And this is just a situation where he needs a little bit of rest and he'll get back on the bump on Tuesday, if needed.¡±