Dbacks Avoid a Heartbreaking Defeat and Even The Series: Dbacks 8, Pirates 7

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 28: Gerardo Carrillo #68 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in twelfth inning at PNC Park on July 28, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

You guys have probably heard the line ‘its hard not to be romantic about baseball’ before, and tonight was a perfect encapsulation of that very phrase. It had all the highs of the big blowout win, the heartbreak of the blown save, and then the triumph of the unsung hero coming out of nowhere in the extra innings to save the team. Nights like tonight either drive you crazy, or make you fall in love with the game that much more. No other sport can play with our emotions quite like baseball can.

The Diamondbacks offense got off to such an amazing start. Scoring consistently with team baseball throughout each of the first 4 innings. It really felt like this offense was clicking. Overall they recorded 16 hits in the 12 innings highlighted by James McCann with 4 and Nolan Arenado with 3. On the flip side, this offense also set a franchise record recording 24 outs with runners in scoring position tonight. What started out so good, quickly turned into a start reminder of the problems that have been plaguing this offense most of the season with its struggles with RISP.

Then in the 7 th inning, the offense suddenly came to a screeching halt. And the Pirates offense came jolting to life. The Pirates would erase the 6-0 lead the Dbacks had going into the 8 th inning with 3 runs in the 8 th and 3 runs in the 9 th . Unfortunately what had been a strength much of the season in the backend of the bullpen in Thompson and Sewald was a weakness tonight. Thompson simply could not get away with anything tonight giving up 4 hits and a walk in just .2 of an inning. And the leader of this bullpen, Sewald came into the game with a 3 run lead in the 9 th and proceeded to give up a base hit and back to back home runs to immediately erase the 3 run lead and tie the game. This was such a low moment for this team in such a big game. Especially with how lock down Sewald has been in save situations this season coming into the game having blown only 2 saves in 24 chances.

However fortunately for the Dbacks there was Gerardo Carillo who tonight put this team on his back and carried them back into the 3 rd wildcard spot. Carrillo, who came into today working primarily as the low leverage long man, was thrust straight into some of the most high leverage innings of the season thus far, and boy did he deliver. Carillo was able to give the team 2 innings tonight in which he allowed 0 hits and 0 runs while striking out 3 while getting his first career major league win. He threw a 6 pitch scoreless 11 th and then put up another 0 in the 12 th to keep this team alive. Carillo has always been an intriguing relief option in the upper minors given his upper 90’s fastball velocity combined with his pitch mix including a cutter, a splitter, and sinker. However tonight he also showed that he has what could arguably be the most important trait for a late inning reliever and that is he has that dog in him.

It is also worth discussing Brandon Pfaadt who tonight was dominant over 7 innings and definitely was deserving of a win. Pfaadt allowed just 7 baserunners while striking out 4 tonight and his stuff was really working. With the way his season started out, if I would have told you that he would be back in the starting rotation with an ERA of 4.00 going into August, very few people would have believed me. Especially with the contract extension that he signed, Pfaadt has definitely been one of the biggest wins thus far in the season with how he has turned things around and once again looks like the promising young frontline starting pitcher that the Dbacks were banking on.

The Dbacks will go for the series win tomorrow afternoon with Eduardo Rodriquez on the mound in what will once again be the biggest game of the season thus far for the Dbacks. A win would guarantee the Dbacks the season series win against the Pirates, as well as put them 2 GB of the final wild card position. Here’s to hoping ERod can continue to carry this team tomorrow.

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →