Guess Whose Back!? Dbacks 5, Royals 3. F/11
· Yahoo Sports
On Tuesday the Dbacks were able to get to a season high 10 games over .500 as they beat the Kansas City Royals in 11 innings. The story of the game was Corbin Burnes’ return to the team, but the guys that stole the show at the end were of an unlikely variety as there was lots to report from this one!
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Corbin Burnes looked about as I expected him to in his season debut, but perhaps performed slightly better. His fastball was up a tick or 2 topping out at 95 mph when it topped out at 93 in his rehab outings so the adrenaline was going as expected. I think also as expected was Burnes’ command looked a little shaky. I think this is too be expected for a guy who is coming back from major injury and the shoulder setback. The fact that he was able to get through 3 innings, get up to 57 pitches, and not allow any runs is definitely the best outcome you were hoping for. As long as he feels good the next couple of days, expect him to maybe be able to pick up another 15 pitches or so in his next outing which could put him into that 5 inning territory that you are looking for as a starter.
According to Burnes in his postgame interview, he felt good today. He blames 3 AB’s for zapping his pitch count. Also said he struggled to find a feel for the curveball. Admitted he was probably trying to do to much as their were some nerves today. 464 days since his last big league game.
Aside from the excitement of seeing Burnes again, this appeared to be almost the exact same game again as yesterday as this Dbacks offense continues to struggle. They were finally able to get on the board in the 8th inning thanks to a Perdomo sacrifice fly. In the top of the 9th, Tim Tawa came up huge and added what would prove to be a critical insurance run on a home run to left center field. He would also follow that up with a game saving diving catch in extra innings.
The story of the game was its unlikely hero’s at the end however. Admittedly I was someone who wasn’t thrilled to see Blake Walston entering the game in the 10th inning with a tie game, but he really stepped up when this team needed him most going 2 innings as the last line of defense with his back against the wall in a tired Dbacks bullpen. After Walston got the final out of the game, his reaction represented a long time coming for a guy who has struggled with consistency and just returned from Tommy John. Such a cool moment to see that emotion from a guy like Walston.
The other unlikely hero who was activated off the IL at the same time as Walston was Lourdes Gurriel Jr who hit an RBI triple in the 11th to put the Dbacks ahead for good. Hopefully a moment he can build upon as he has struggled to return from injury.
Torey Lovullo confirmed in his postgame press conference that Zac Gallen will start in the game tomorrow and be followed up by Michael Soroka as all of a sudden, there are starting pitchers galore 😊.
Cubs lost, Phillies lost, Padres losing at the time of this writing…. (knock on wood). Dbacks will look to get the sweep tomorrow.