Lourdes Gurriel is back to help the Arizona Diamondbacks as they aim for the playoffs.
After being removed from the injured list, Gurriel hit a homer that broke a tie in the sixth inning, leading the Diamondbacks to a 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. He hadn’t played since September 1 because of a strained left calf.
“It feels really satisfying to, one, be back on the field, and two, in a crucial week like it is,” Gurriel said through a translator. “And then the fact that I didn’t just come back, I had an opportunity to help the team, too. It was a great night for me.”
The defending NL champion Diamondbacks are still working to secure a playoff spot, but Gurriel’s return was a big boost.
With this win, Arizona took sole possession of the NL’s second wild-card spot, moving ahead of the New York Mets, who lost 12-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Atlanta Braves are three games behind the Diamondbacks and two games behind the Mets.
Gurriel, 30, played in left field and batted fifth, going 2 for 3 with two runs scored, bringing his average to .276 and his OPS to .755. He now has 18 homers and 71 RBIs this season.
“Ideally, I would have liked to have had more games in order to prepare timing-wise and have more game-like situations,” Gurriel said. “But physically, I’m good, and I’ll make the most of the opportunity.”
Last year, he had a .772 OPS while helping the Diamondbacks reach the World Series.
After the game, Arizona manager Torey Lovullo talked about Gurriel’s impact on the lineup.
“Stability,” Lovullo said. “Consistency. He typically hits three or five. It’s just a very dependable at-bat in the middle of any situation. It was nice to see him running out to left field today.”
To make room for Gurriel, the Diamondbacks designated infielder Luis Guillorme for assignment.
