The Arizona Diamondbacks held on for a 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, snatching the road series victory and maintaining a two-game deficit from the third National League Wild Card spot.
Diamondbacks reliever Kyle Backhus loaded the bases with a walk and a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning, but a Matt Wallner fly out ended the game.
The Diamondbacks committed three errors (two from Jordan Lawlar) and had a runner picked off (Geraldo Perdomo), but an ugly win counts the same as they got back to .500 (75-75).
James McCann drove in four runs in the series finale, as he blasted the go-ahead, three-run home run in the fourth inning off Twins starter Bailey Ober.
Eight Diamondbacks recorded hits. A Tim Tawa RBI single in the seventh inning and an Alek Thomas sacrifice fly in the eighth brought in insurance runs that came in handy.
Diamondbacks starter Nabil Crismatt, meanwhile, bounced back from a shaky start in San Francisco with five innings and two runs (none earned) on three hits. His ERA with the Diamondbacks is down to 2.70.
The New York Mets (77-73) walked off the Texas Rangers on Sunday to snap an eight-game losing streak and hold onto the third Wild Card spot for the time being.
Up next for Diamondbacks
Arizona has 12 games left on the schedule.
The Diamondbacks return home for a nine-game homestand, starting on Monday against the San Francisco Giants. The Giants (75-73) entered Sunday a half-game back of New York for a playoff spot, so this series could determine the fates of either NL West club.
This is the final homestand of the season for the Diamondbacks before they end the campaign with three games at Petco Park. The Philadelphia Phillies will head to Chase Field on Friday, and the D-backs will wrap up their home schedule against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Zac Gallen (4.84 ERA) will start Monday’s opener for Arizona, while the Giants will turn to Kai-Wei Teng (7.54 ERA).
The Mets, meanwhile, have Monday off before starting a road series in San Diego on Tuesday.
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. MST on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
