That ended up all right, I guess.
Recaps
[Dbacks.com] ‘That was awesome’: Pitcher Nelson records pinch-hit RBI single in 1st career AB – For almost two years now, Nelson, who played shortstop for two seasons at the University of Oregon, has been telling Lovullo that he could hit if needed. Last year, when Lovullo turned to fellow reliever Scott McGough to pinch-hit in a similar situation and McGough struck out, the manager asked Nelson what he would have done in that situation. “I would’ve hit a missile somewhere,” Nelson replied. Nelson didn’t exactly hit a missile — it was an 89.8 mph grounder to the shortstop side of second base — but with the infield in, it easily got by Dansby Swanson into center. Naylor scored from third, though Suarez was thrown out at the plate by Pete Crow-Armstrong. Nelson showed good instincts on the bases and read that the throw home was not going to be cut off, so he advanced to second with his first slide since 2018.
[AZ Central] Diamondbacks explode for 8-run eighth, salvage series split with Chicago Cubs – It left Nelson with a variety of firsts as a pro — his first hit RBI. His first slide — and accompanying raspberry on his knee. And he said there was one more first that did not escape his notice. “I realized I had dirt on my pants for the first time in a long time,” he said. “That was awesome.” And it left the Diamondbacks with a potential momentum-shifting victory, one that comes just ahead of the debut of their new $210 million ace, Corbin Burnes, who will start Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. “I came to this ballpark today thinking we got to get this worm to turn,” Lovullo said. “If we can split this series, it would be a good push. The way we did it made it even sweeter.”
[Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks erupt for 8 runs in 8th inning to stun Cubs – “That was a great team win,” Naylor said. “Everyone did their part. Everyone played great. Everyone played hard. That’s all you can ask for everyday.” “It was just one quality at-bat after another,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “It was nine walks, 14 base hits. Rallies started with walks. Rallies were continued with walks. And then there was slug by the right guys at the right time.” The Diamondbacks were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position through seven innings and finished 5-f0r-15. They had the lead-off hitter reach base in seven straight innings but failed to break through until the eighth. “It’s frustrating at times, but, I mean, it all happens when it’s meant to happen,” Naylor said.
[SI] Ryne Nelson and the Resurgence of the Diamondbacks win 10-6 – Eduardo Rodriguez pitched quite well in his first start of the season with really only one blemish, a blemish that probably shouldn’t have happened as the pitch before it was a strike three only to be called a ball. That missed call allowed Seiya Suzuki to hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning on the next pitch. This will only further the calls for the challenge system used in Spring Training. Regardless, Rodriguez was able to get through 5.1 innings and gave up just three hits, two of which were home runs. Dansby Swanson’s homer in the second was on a cutter that just didn’t cut. Rodriguez gave up three runs in total with three walks, while striking out five batters. It was a great season debut after missing so much time last year. He threw 85 pitches, 47 of which for strikes.
Team news
[AZ Central] Corbin Burnes set to hit the spotlight against the New York Yankees – Prized offseason acquisition Corbin Burnes will make his Diamondbacks debut on April 1. Though Yankee Stadium can be a tough ballpark for right-handed pitchers, Burnes has not had any trouble there in his career. Burnes has started there twice — once in 2023, once last year — and has given up just one run in a combined 13 innings, with three walks and 16 strikeouts. The Diamondbacks will see a familiar face in pinstripes for the first time: Paul Goldschmidt, who was the face of the Diamondbacks franchise for more than a half-decade, signed a one-year deal with the Yankees over the winter and was New York’s starting first baseman on Opening Day.
[MiLB] English and Tawa Steer Reno to their First Win of the Season in Series Finale vs Las Vegas – Tristin English came through in a big way for the Reno Aces (1-2), slugging a two-out, two-RBI double to break a tie and take the lead in the seventh frame, ultimately giving Reno their first win of the season over the Las Vegas Aviators (2-1), the Triple-A Affiliate of the Athletics, in a 9-4 win in Sunday’s series finale at Las Vegas Ballpark. Trey Mancini and Tim Tawa provided much-needed insurance in the later frames. Mancini scored Kevin Graham on a single up the middle to collect his second RBI of the series. Tawa then broke the game wide open with a towering three-run blast into the left-centerfield bleachers. The 25-year-old is red-hot to start the 2025 campaign, going 4-for-11 (.364) with two home runs and six RBI in three games.
And, elsewhere…
[MLB] Yankees’ new ‘Torpedo’ bats create a stir amid 15-homer weekend barrage – Major League Baseball confirmed Sunday that the bats do not violate Major League rules or bat supplier regulations. Rule 3.02 states that bats cannot be more than 2.61 inches in diameter and 42 inches in length. “The concept makes so much sense. I know I’m bought in,” Volpe said. “The bigger you can have the barrel where you hit the ball, it makes sense to me.” The Yankees made home run history during their season-opening homestand, tying an AL/NL record with 15 home runs in their first three games of a season and tying a club mark with 13 home runs in two games. They belted four in Sunday’s 12-3 win after clubbing nine on Saturday.
[ESPN] Shohei Ohtani 50/50 card first of Dodgers star to break $1M – The sale of the on-card-autographed, 1-of-1 numbered Ohtani card features the Major League Baseball logo from the pants he wore in Sept. 2024 while hitting his 49th, 50th and 51st home runs and stealing his 50th and 51st bases against the Miami Marlins. It sold for $1.067 million at Heritage Auctions, including buyer’s premium, and is by far the most paid for an Ohtani card. The card, however, fell short of unseating the $1.1 million Paul Skenes MLB debut patch autograph card as the most expensive non-Mike Trout modern baseball card.
[Fox] Pivetta brilliant in debut for Padres, who beat Braves 5-0 for 4-game sweep – Nick Pivetta threw seven innings of one-hit ball in a brilliant debut with the Padres and Manny Machado returned to the lineup and hit an RBI double as San Diego beat the Atlanta Braves 5-0 on Sunday night to sweep a season-opening, four-game series. The Padres are 4-0 for the first time since 1998, the last time they reached the World Series. The Braves were shut out a second straight game and are 0-4 for the first time since 2021. The Braves haven’t been swept in a season-opening, four-game series since 1980 at Cincinnati, and in a four-game series in San Diego since 1979.