In a thrilling matchup at Citi Field, J.D. Martinez delivered a clutch home run in the eighth inning to propel the New York Mets to a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Diamondbacks on Thursday night. The loss was particularly devastating for Arizona, as they not only surrendered the game but also lost starting pitcher Zac Gallen to injury.
With the Diamondbacks holding a slim 2-1 lead, Mets’ slugger Francisco Lindor stepped up to the plate in the seventh inning and smashed a game-tying single into right field against reliever Ryan Thompson.
As the game entered the eighth inning, Thompson remained on the mound. However, his luck quickly turned sour when Martinez stepped up and launched a home run to straightaway center on the very first pitch he saw, giving the Mets a crucial lead.
Unfortunately for Arizona, their misfortune extended beyond the final score. Gallen, the team’s starting pitcher, suffered a right hamstring strain after throwing just six pitches. Following a single by Lindor, Gallen immediately called for the training staff, and the injury was later diagnosed as a strain.
Overall, it was a thrilling comeback win for the Mets, while the Diamondbacks were left to contemplate both their defeat and the loss of their starting pitcher.
Adding insult to injury, the Diamondbacks suffered a defeat at the hands of the Mets, who were already in a state of chaos, having lost eight out of their last nine games. Just a day prior, the Mets had severed ties with reliever Jorge Lopez due to his impulsive act of flinging his glove into the stands out of frustration. In addition, the team had a lengthy postgame meeting to address their struggles.
In the ninth inning, the Diamondbacks managed to put their leadoff batter on base, but Mets reliever Reed Garrett swiftly retired the next three batters in succession, sealing the victory for his team.
This loss marked the Diamondbacks’ fourth consecutive defeat and their fifth in the last six games.