Carlson’s Walk-Off Single Dooms Diamondbacks in Extra-Innings.

Dylan Carlson’s walk-off RBI single in the 12th inning gave the Tampa Bay Rays an 8-7 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.Photo byWinfred BaileyonUnsplash

Dylan Carlson’s RBI single in the 12th inning lifted the Tampa Bay Rays (62-61) to an 8-7 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks (69-56) today, completing a three-game sweep at Tropicana Field.

Just when it seemed the Rays were certain to win in regulation, Diamondbacks rookie catcher Adrian Del Castillo delivered a dramatic one-out, three-run home run in the ninth inning, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat and sending the game into extra innings.

Merrill Kelly (3-0, 3.63 ERA) had a challenging outing for Arizona, giving up six runs on eight hits over five innings. Despite striking out four, he allowed two walks and one home run while throwing 96 pitches.

Leading 6-0, Rays pitchers Drew Rasmussen and Tyler Alexander combined to carry a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Rasmussen was dominant in his two innings, not allowing a hit or a walk while striking out two on just 21 pitches.

Alexander followed with 5.2 innings of work, giving up five hits and three runs while striking out five and walking two over 79 pitches.

The no-hit bid was finally broken when Corbin Carroll’s bloop single fell into left field. Moments later, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hammered a 410-foot fly ball to left, which Rays left fielder Jonny DeLuca managed to pin against the fence.

However, the ball bounced off, resulting in a long single. Josh Bell walked to load the bases, and Jake McCarthy’s RBI sacrifice fly put the Diamondbacks on the scoreboard, making it 6-1.

In the eighth inning, Kevin Newman’s single was followed by Carroll’s 13th home run of the year—a towering 422-foot, two-run blast—cutting the Rays' lead in half to 6-3.

In the top of the ninth, McCarthy singled, prompting manager Torey Lovullo to insert pinch-hitter Ketel Marte for Randal Grichuk. Marte, who was already nursing an ankle injury, collapsed to the dirt while taking a pitch.

It appeared that the weight transfer during the pre-swing motion caused a reoccurrence of the original injury. No further information on Marte was available at press time.

Joc Pederson replaced Marte and drew a walk, setting up Adrian Del Castillo’s game-tying three-run homer.

Both teams scored in the 10th inning to tie the game at 7-7, followed by a scoreless 11th and a scoreless top of the 12th from the Diamondbacks.

Carlson’s walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 12th then sealed the Rays' 8-7 victory.