Arizona secured another come-from-behind victory, defeating the Guardians after trailing 6-2 in the fifth inning. The team has now taken the lead in the sixth inning or later in four games this spring.
Pitching Struggles and Offensive Power
The win was built on a strong offensive performance, featuring 15 hits and five walks. But, the game began with a shaky outing from starting pitcher Michael Soroka, who allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in just 1.2 innings. Five consecutive Guardians reached base against him before he was lifted.
Relief pitching saw mixed results. Kohl Drake allowed three runs in 1.2 innings, while Ryan Thompson, Kevin Ginkel, Shawn Dubin, Drey Jameson, and Spencer Giesting each contributed scoreless innings. Giesting ended the game with a strikeout on an automated ball-strike (ABS) call that was reversed.
Key Offensive Contributors
Ryan Waldschmidt led the offense with three hits, bringing his batting average to .316 and his OPS to .982. Kristian Robinson likewise recorded three hits, and Pavin Smith contributed two hits with exit velocities exceeding 107 mph, raising his average to .294 and his OPS to .941. Ildemaro Vargas had two hits, maintaining a .412 batting average, and Jordan Lawlar drew two walks, giving him a spring training-leading six walks.
The team’s overall OPS is .887, second only to the Rockies (.893) during spring training. Arizona is hitting .333/.421/.627 with a 1.048 OPS after the sixth inning, 148 points higher than any other team.
Looking Ahead
The Diamondbacks have a day off tomorrow before an exhibition game against Team Mexico at Salt River Fields on Tuesday. It remains to be seen if the team’s late-inning success will continue as the spring training schedule progresses, or if the pitching staff can establish more consistent early-game performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hits did the Diamondbacks record in this game?
The Diamondbacks recorded 15 hits.
What was Michael Soroka’s final pitching line?
Michael Soroka allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in 1.2 innings, with one strikeout.
Who ended the game for the Diamondbacks?
Spencer Giesting ended the game with a strikeout on an ABS reversed strike three.
Will the Diamondbacks’ offensive momentum continue as they approach the regular season?
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