The Arizona Diamondbacks clinched a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in extra innings, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hitting a game-tying home run in the ninth inning and Adrian Del Castillo delivering a walk-off RBI single in the 10th. This dramatic win came in the third game of a series tied 1-1, played on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
The game began with both teams scoring early. In the first inning, Cleveland’s Bo Naylor grounded out to drive in a run, giving the Guardians an initial lead. Arizona responded in the bottom of the first with an RBI single from Lourdes Gurriel Jr., tying the game at 1-1. The Guardians regained the lead in the second inning when Brayan Rocchio grounded out to bring another run home, making it 2-1.
Pitching was a highlight, with Cleveland’s Parker Messick making his major league debut and impressing by allowing only one run on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out six. Arizona’s starter, Brandon Pfaadt, also pitched solidly, giving up two runs on five hits in seven innings, keeping the Diamondbacks within striking distance.
The turning point came in the ninth inning. With Arizona trailing 2-1, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. led off with a massive 424-foot home run to left field off reliever Cade Smith, his 17th of the season, to tie the game and force extra innings. This clutch hit set the stage for the dramatic finish.
In the 10th inning, under MLB’s extra-innings rules, Pavin Smith started as the automatic runner on second base for Arizona. Alex Thomas executed a sacrifice bunt to move Smith to third, and then Adrian Del Castillo, in a key at-bat, hit a broken-bat single to left field, driving in Smith for the walk-off win. Del Castillo’s hit secured the victory in his first major walk-off moment.
Defensively and in relief, Arizona’s bullpen held strong. John Curtiss recorded four outs, including striking out Angel Martinez to start the 10th, and Andrew Saalfrank earned the win by retiring the next two batters. The Guardians’ offense struggled in the late innings, failing to capitalize on opportunities, including leaving the bases loaded in earlier frames.
This win has implications for both teams’ playoff pushes. Arizona improves its record and gains momentum in a tight division race, while Cleveland faces a setback but remains competitive. The victory also highlights the depth of Arizona’s roster, with contributions from less-heralded players like Del Castillo.
Looking ahead, the Guardians are scheduled to travel to Texas for their next series, with Slade Cecconi set to start on Friday. The Diamondbacks will host the Cincinnati Reds, with Ryne Nelson expected to pitch. Both teams will use this game as a learning experience, with Cleveland focusing on closing out games and Arizona building on late-inning resilience.