New York Mets get best of Arizona Diamondbacks in slugfest, take 8-5 win in series opener

Nick Piecoro and Eli McKown, Arizona Republic

July 4, 2023 at 1:14 PM·7 min read

Diamondbacks lose HR battle to Mets in 8-5 loss on Fourth of July

The New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks provided plenty of fireworks on the Fourth of July for 41,670 fans, but the Mets came out on top with a 8-5 victory on the road.

Each team hit three home runs in the contest, with standouts Corbin Carroll, Christian Walker and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each going deep for the Diamondbacks.

Max Scherzer (six innings, five hits, four runs and nine strikeouts) and Zach Davies (5.2 innings, five hits, four runs and six strikeouts) turned in similar outings, but the Mets’ bullpen blanked the Diamondbacks in the final three innings for the win. The Diamondbacks used four relievers after Davies departed the game, but Kyle Nelson (three pitches, one batter faced) was the lone pitcher to not allow a run of the four.

Carroll began the home-run barrage, hitting a solo shot to left field with two outs in the first. In the top of the fourth, with the count 1-2 and Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil on base, veteran outfielder Starling Marte blasted Davies’ changeup to left field for a three-run home run to make it 3-1 Mets.

Heading to the bottom of the fourth inning, Carroll's homer provided Arizona's only baserunner off Scherzer. But with two outs and the count 3-2, Walker powered the ball 449 feet to center field, cutting the deficit to one. Gurriel immediately followed with a homer to left field, the fourth time this season the Diamondbacks have hit back-to-back home runs.

The Mets quickly retook the lead, however, on Brandon Nimmo's homer to right field in the fifth. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth and two out, Carroll drew a walk to bring home Alek Thomas — the first run of the game not scored via a home run. But Scherzer struck out Walker, stranding three runners to cap off a wild-two inning stretch with a 4-4 tie.

The Mets pushed past the Diamondbacks in the final three innings, with Francisco Alvarez hitting a two-run shot to deep center field for a 6-4 lead in the seventh. Pinch hitter DJ Stewart’s sacrifice fly drove in Lindor in the eighth, and then the shortstop hit a double to drive home Brett Baty for an 8-4 advantage heading to the bottom of the ninth.

The Diamondbacks showed the makings of a rally, loading the based with two outs for Walker. The first baseman drew a walk to force in a run, but Gurriel grounded out to close out the Mets' 8-5 victory on the road.

—Eli McKown

Mets blast third homer to move in front of D-Backs

Rookie Francisco Alvarez blasted the Mets’ third home run of the day on Tuesday, a two-run shot that snapped a tie with the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. After seven innings, the Mets lead, 6-4.

With the game tied at 4, Alvarez fell behind in the count, 0-2, to Diamondbacks reliever Miguel Castro. But after fouling off three consecutive two-strike pitches and taking a ball, he got a sinker down in the zone that he drove out to left-center field. The ball went an estimated 467 feet, coming off Alvarez’s bat at 110 mph.

Both the Mets and Diamondbacks have three home runs apiece today.

Four combined HRs between D-Backs and Mets awakens Chase Field

A July 4 fireworks show has broken out at Chase Field, with four total home runs across the fourth and fifth innings between the Mets and Diamondbacks, who are tied 4-4 after five in front of a big, engaged holiday crowd.

In the top of the fourth, with the count 1-2 and Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil on base, veteran outfielder Starling Marte blasted Zach Davies’ changeup to left field for a three-run home run to make it 3-1 Mets.

Heading to the bottom of the inning, the Diamondbacks had only gotten on base once off Max Scherzer on Corbin Carroll’s home run in the first. But with two outs and the count 3-2, Christian Walker powered the ball 449 feet into deep center field to cut the deficit to one. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. immediately followed with a homer to left field, the fourth time this season the Diamondbacks have hit back-to-back home runs.

The Mets quickly retook the lead, however, on Brandon Nimmo's homer to right field. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth and two out, Carroll drew a walk to bring home Alek Thomas — the first run of the game not scored via a home run. But Scherzer struck out Walker, stranding three runners.

Through five innings, Davies has allowed five hits and four runs on 84 pitches and five strikeouts. Scherzer has given up five hits and four runs on 89 pitches and eight strikeouts.

—Eli McKown

Corbin Carroll HR gives D-Backs lead vs. Max Scherzer

In his first game back in the lineup after a three-game absence, Corbin Carroll blasted a solo home run in his first at-bat on Tuesday, giving the Diamondbacks an early lead against the New York Mets and right-hander Max Scherzer.

Carroll hit a 1-1 change-up out to left field in the bottom of the first inning.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll pumps his first home run against the New York Mets during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 4, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Carroll had not started since exiting Thursday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays with right shoulder soreness. He had an at-bat as a pinch-hitter on Sunday against the Angels.

The home run was Carroll’s 18th of the season.

—Nick Piecoro

With Merrill Kelly on IL, 'everything's on the table' to fill weekend spot in rotation vs. Pirates

With Merrill Kelly on the injured list with right calf inflammation, the Diamondbacks face a dilemma in their rotation heading into their weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kelly will participate in a 35-40 pitch bullpen session on Tuesday to begin the track back and "feels good," according to manager Torey Lovullo. However, Kelly will not be eligible to return off the IL until after the All-Star break.

Rotation spots are mapped out through the Mets series. After that, Lovullo said all options are on the table.

One option to replace Kelly’s spot is a “bullpen” game. It could be the easiest route, Lovullo said.

“That's a consideration, for sure,” Lovullo said. “Everything's on the table right now.”

Playing into the decision will be what their upcoming starters give them. If Zach Davies, Tommy Henry and Ryne Nelson have shaky starts and give extra work to the bullpen, it might force the Diamondbacks' hand to find a starter for the weekend series against Pirates.

The only other starter on the 40-man roster who would be eligible to be promoted is left-hander Konnor Pilikingon, but his 8.10 ERA with the Reno Aces might prove to be a deterrent.

—Eli McKown

Coming up

Wednesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Tommy Henry (5-1, 4.08) vs. Mets RHP Max Scherzer (7-2, 3.87).

Thursday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (5-4, 4.67) vs. Mets RHP Carlos Carrasco (2-3, 5.94).

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (10-3, 3.15) vs. Pirates LHP Rich Hill (7-8, 4.50).

What to know about the New York Mets

The Mets rank alongside the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Padres as baseball’s most disappointing teams, though the Mets might take the cake given they are carrying a record $350 million payroll. Their offense ranks in the middle of the pack with 4.48 runs per game while their pitching is a little below average with a 4.50 ERA. 1B Pete Alonso has turned in his usual power production, with 25 homers, but he has just a .221 average and .316 on-base. SS Francisco Lindor has a somewhat pedestrian .223/.306/.446 line, though he does have 17 homers. CF Brandon Nimmo has had a strong year, hitting .279/.372/.458 with 12 homers. LF Tommy Pham has been hot in recent weeks. He is 34 for 93 (.366) with 10 double sand six homers since June 4. RHPs Max Scherzer (3.87 ERA) and Justin Verlander (3.66 ERA) have not been bad, but they have not been as dominant as the Mets had hoped given their enormous salaries.