Diamondbacks Suffer Record-Breaking Loss to Brewers
In a dramatic turn of events, the Arizona Diamondbacks endured a heart-wrenching defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Despite holding an 8-0 lead going into the bottom of the third inning, Arizona's hopes for a commanding victory quickly unraveled, culminating in a shocking 10-9 loss. This game marks the largest blown lead in the history of the Diamondbacks franchise.
The Diamondbacks jumped to an early and substantial lead, seemingly setting themselves up for an easy win. An explosive seven-run third inning, highlighted by home runs from Josh Bell and Eugenio Suárez, seemed to put the game out of reach. Most of the damage was inflicted upon Brewers' starter, Frankie Montas, who struggled to find his form.
However, Milwaukee began chipping away at the lead with a solitary run in the bottom of the third inning. By the end of the fourth inning, the Brewers had added two more runs, and another during the sixth inning, slowly closing the gap. The seventh inning saw Milwaukee score a pair of runs, further tightening the contest.
Arizona attempted to respond, with Randal Grichuk delivering a pinch-hit RBI single in the top of the eighth inning, providing the D-backs some breathing room. However, Milwaukee stormed back in the bottom of the eighth, scoring four runs to complete their stunning comeback. Rhys Hoskins tied the game with a two-run single before a slow-roller off Jake Bauers' bat brought in the go-ahead run.
With this crushing defeat, the Diamondbacks' season record dropped to 87-69. They now hold a precarious half-game lead over the New York Mets for the second wild-card spot in the National League, with the surging Atlanta Braves only 1 ½ games behind them.
On the other side, Milwaukee halted a three-game losing streak with this victory. The Brewers, boasting a season record of 89-67, have clinched the NL Central for the second consecutive year. Impressively, they remain the only team in the majors this season to avoid a losing streak of four or more games. The Brewers are likely to enter the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the NL bracket.
For Arizona, the focus now shifts to redemption and securing their playoff position. Each game takes on heightened significance as they endeavor to stave off the Mets and Braves. The resilience and competitive spirit of the Diamondbacks will be crucial in the coming days as they seek to rebound from this devastating loss.