Ketel Marte hit a two-run home run early in the game and drove in the go-ahead run with a ground ball single in the seventh inning, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks secure a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.
Marte, currently leading in All-Star voting among National League second basemen, connected for his 16th home run against Joe Ryan in the first inning. Later in the seventh, he hit a slow roller to second base with two outs, breaking a 4-4 tie.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo praised Marte, saying, “What can you say about Marte? He’s a strong player. It was a hard-fought win, and I’m proud of our guys for battling back. It wasn’t easy.”
Arizona jumped to a 4-0 lead by the end of the second inning, but the Twins rallied against Brandon Pfaadt. Byron Buxton, who nearly caught Eugenio Suárez’s RBI triple in the second inning, hit a home run to left-center field to start Minnesota’s comeback in the fifth inning.
Ryan Jeffers then tied the game with a three-run homer in the seventh inning, ending Pfaadt’s night after a walk and an infield hit.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jorge Alcala retired the first two Diamondbacks hitters but walked Geraldo Perdomo, and Corbin Carroll’s single moved Perdomo to third base. Marte’s infield hit past the pitcher’s mound allowed Perdomo to score as Marte beat the throw to first base.
Reflecting on his key hit, Marte said, “In that moment, I just had to run hard and make it safely to first base. It worked out well for me.”
Kevin Ginkel earned the win for Arizona after pitching in relief in the seventh inning. Paul Sewald closed the game, giving up a double to Buxton in the ninth inning but retiring Jeffers to secure his 10th save of the season.
Pfaadt pitched effectively for the Diamondbacks, allowing five hits and two walks over his outing, striking out two batters. His pitch count stayed manageable until the seventh inning, where Jeffers’ home run came on his final pitch of the game.
“It was tough how things turned in the seventh inning, but we managed to come away with the win,” Pfaadt commented after the game.
