Diamondbacks Stun Braves with Historic Ninth-Inning Rally

ATLANTA — The Arizona Diamondbacks pulled off an incredible comeback on Thursday, scoring seven runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Atlanta Braves 11-10. Manager Torey Lovullo expressed his pride in his team’s effort during the game.

"I was like a proud dad, right? Just watching a bunch of Little Leaguers go out there and have some fun and get the job done," Lovullo said. "That’s what I can honestly say I felt in the dugout."

The Diamondbacks were down 10-4 when third baseman Emmanuel Rivera hit a two-out, two-run double to left field against Braves closer Raisel Iglesias, completing the team’s remarkable rally from behind.

Before the game, the Diamondbacks held a record of 0-334 when trailing by six runs entering the eighth inning and 0-418 when behind by that margin in the ninth. "You have 27 outs, you have to play 27 outs hard," Rivera said. "I mean, that ninth inning tells how we play this game today. We’re never gonna give up."

Conversely, the Braves had not lost a game when leading by six or more runs in the ninth inning since July 17, 1973. They had a 99.9% chance of winning when Rivera initially struck out to start the ninth, according to ESPN Research.

With this victory, the Diamondbacks completed a three-game sweep of the Braves and extended their winning streak to four games. Rivera’s late heroics were vital in changing the game’s momentum dramatically.

After Rivera’s double, Corbin Carroll moved the runners forward, and Ketel Marte added an infield single that brought the Diamondbacks closer at 10-9. Just when it seemed the Braves had a handle on the game, Rivera, one of the key run producers for the Diamondbacks, came through. "So all of a sudden, you’ve got Geno, one of our top run producers, in the box with the tying run on base, and he comes through," Lovullo noted.

One of the main pitchers for Arizona, Andrew Chafin, successfully closed the inning to register his sixth save. This thrilling win brought the Diamondbacks to a 28-31 record, a marked improvement after struggling through late May.

After losing nine of their previous ten games, Arizona’s players now have new hope for their season’s success. "It’s really cool, just to see how much work and time we put in, in the cage and on the field, and for it to show up when it matters is really special," said Jordan Luplow. "And it just shows how much we care and how much we want to win."

The Braves have now lost four straight games and eleven of their last fourteen. Meanwhile, despite Thursday’s loss, Atlanta continued to show a powerful offensive presence, finishing with 12 hits in the game.