Early homers send D-backs to Game 1 win over Brewers

 

[October 04, 2023]  MILWAUKEE -- After tagging Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes for three homers in a 6-3 victory on Tuesday to open the National League wild-card series, the pitching advantage now shifts to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Arizona can sweep the best-of-three set with another road victory on Wednesday, and the Diamondbacks will send their ace, right-hander Zac Gallen, to the mound.

"They're going to come with everything they have," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "That's for sure. I feel much better than I would ... be feeling if we lost this game. I know that. But we beat their ace. They're going to try to beat ours tomorrow. So we'll be ready to go."

Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte hit back-to-back homers off Burnes in the third inning as the Diamondbacks erased a 3-0 deficit. Gabriel Moreno put Arizona in front 4-3 with a leadoff homer in the fourth, a 425-foot shot to left-center.

Christian Walker added a two-run double in the ninth off Brewers closer Devin Williams, who walked three in the inning.

Six Arizona relievers preserved the victory over the NL Central champions by combining for 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Rookie Brandon Pfaadt allowed three runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking one in a 67-pitch start.

"If I had a chance to speak openly to start this process here, I would have spoken about our bullpen," Lovullo said. "Obviously there's several highlights. Christian Walker doubled to extend the lead, the home runs -- but our bullpen was the reason why we won this game."

Joe Mantiply (1-0), the first pitcher out of the Diamondbacks' bullpen, got the win after recording two outs. Paul Sewald earned his first career postseason save with a scoreless ninth.

The Brewers loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth on consecutive singles by Sal Frelick, Willy Adames and Josh Donaldson. Brice Turang struck out as the final batter faced by Ryne Nelson, and Ryan Thompson took over on the mound. Arizona third baseman Evan Longoria then leaped to snag Tyrone Taylor's scorching liner and doubled Adames off second.

Oct 3, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes (39) talks with Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) after the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during game one of the Wildcard series for the 2023 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Burnes (0-1) departed after walking the first two hitters in the fifth. He gave up four runs on five hits while striking out five and walking two.

"The offense did a great job of coming out and swinging the bats and scoring runs early," Burnes said. "I just did a poor job after that of executing pitches. That's really all it comes down to."

In the Arizona third, Geraldo Perdomo singled with one out and Carroll, who had 25 homers as a rookie this season, belted a 1-1 pitch 444 feet into the second deck in right-center. Marte then jumped on the first pitch for a line-drive homer to right.

Taylor put the Brewers up 3-0 in the second with a two-run homer, after a leadoff single by Donaldson.

Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the first on a walk to Christian Yelich, a single by William Contreras and an RBI single by Carlos Santana.

The Brewers announced postgame that right-hander Freddy Peralta will start Game 2, moving up a day after Brandon Woodruff was ruled out for the series with an injury to his right (pitching) shoulder.

--Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media

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