Carroll Delivers D-backs Victory
Corbin Carroll's 3-Run Triple in Eighth Inning Leads Diamondbacks to 9-5 Win Over Twins
Corbin Carroll hit a three-run triple in the eighth inning to tie the Arizona Diamondbacks' all-time career triples record, lifting Arizona past the Minnesota Twins 9-5 at Chase Field on Thursday night, according to AP News. The blast was Carroll's 52nd career triple, matching the record set by Stephen Drew — and Carroll needed far fewer games to get there.
The win was Arizona's second straight victory, a welcome turn after the team had gone just 3-10 in a rough stretch earlier this month, AP News reported. Carroll went 3-for-4 on the night and fell only a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.
Carroll's 52nd Triple Ties a Franchise Milestone
Carroll did not have an easy path to the record. He singled in the third inning and doubled in the fifth, putting him halfway to the cycle. Then, in the eighth with the bases loaded, he drove a ball into the gap for a three-run triple. Manager Torey Lovullo put it simply: "What's a standup double to a majority of the people in the big leagues, it's a standup triple to him," according to Herald Bulletin.
Stephen Drew needed roughly 1,000 more plate appearances to reach 52 triples, according to Seattle PI. Carroll has done it in approximately 540 games. MLB.com Statcast clocks Carroll's sprint speed at 30.2 feet per second on triple efforts this season, placing him among the fastest runners in baseball.
Soroka's Early Exit Forces an Eight-Pitcher Bullpen Game
Arizona's night got complicated fast. Starter Michael Soroka left the game with posterior hip discomfort before he could even get through the second inning, D-backs Courier reported. That forced the Diamondbacks to piece together a win using eight different pitchers — a tall order for any team.
Reliever Paul Sewald closed it out in the ninth inning. Analysts noted the bullpen depth was impressive, but the injury is a red flag. Ryne Nelson is already on the injured list with a UCL sprain, making Arizona's starting rotation dangerously thin, according to Chron.
Twins' Back-to-Back Homers Nearly Spark a Comeback
Minnesota made things tense in the top of the eighth. Josh Bell and Royce Lewis hit back-to-back home runs to cut Arizona's lead to 6-5, according to The Hour. Victor Caratini had also gone deep in the second inning to give the Twins an early lead. Suddenly, a comfortable Arizona lead looked shaky.
Then Carroll stepped up with the bases loaded and ended the suspense. Lovullo said "the dugout felt an immediate sigh of relief" after the triple, according to Las Vegas Sun. The three-run shot made it 9-5 and took the life out of any Minnesota comeback hopes.
What Soroka's Injury Means for Arizona Going Forward
The Diamondbacks may need to act fast on their roster. If Soroka is placed on the 15-day injured list, Arizona will likely call up a starter from Triple-A Reno. With two rotation spots now at risk, the team's ability to compete for a playoff spot could hinge on depth they have not yet tested, according to MRT.
For Minnesota, the loss keeps them hovering near .500 in a crowded American League wild card race. Carroll, signed to an eight-year, $111 million deal through 2030, looks like a growing bargain for Arizona — and he is still just getting started, according to Voice of Alexandria.
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