Ketel Marte had two hits, including a tiebreaking two-run double, as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Kansas City Royals 9-5 Monday night in the opening game of a two-game series in Phoenix.
It was the Royals’ fifth straight loss.
The Diamondbacks spotted the Royals a 4-0 lead after a half-inning but six relievers kept the Royals scoreless in the final 5 1/3 innings.
J.B. Wendelken (1-1) was the winning pitcher as Arizona earned its fourth victory in five games.
Arizona starter Zach Davies left in the top of the fourth inning after taking a 112 mph Bobby Witt Jr. line drive off his right leg. He allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.
Zack Greinke (0-3) allowed seven earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out a season-high five and walked a season-high four.
With his fifth strikeout of the night, Greinke tied Mickey Lolich for 21st on the all-time list with 2,832. But he struggled with his control. His four walks matched his total number in 44 innings this season.
Whit Merrifield put the Royals on top with a leadoff home run on the first pitch he saw from Davies. One out later, Witt and Hunter Dozier hit back-to-back homers to left. It was the first time since 2018 that Kansas City hit three or more home runs in the first inning.
The Royals scored their fourth run on a groundout by Kyle Isbel.
The Diamondbacks responded in their half of the first. Daulton Varsho doubled leading off and Pavin Smith followed with a two-run home run. Christian Walker also homered to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Merrifield led off the second with an infield single. He stole second, and when the throw got away, he raced to an uncovered third base. Another errant throw on the play allowed him to score the Royals’ fifth run.
Arizona tied the game in the third. Greinke walked the first two batters, and the runners came around to score on a single by David Peralta and a groundout by Jake McCarthy.
The Diamondbacks took the lead on Marte’s double in the fourth. They added two more runs in the seventh to ice the victory.
–Field Level Media
