Lets understand what happened!
Arizona kept its faint postseason hopes alive with a dramatic ninth-inning rally that beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5–4 on Tuesday, turning a 4–0 deficit into a late win that keeps the Diamondbacks in the wild-card mix. The comeback — capped by Geraldo Perdomo’s walk-off single — underlined Arizona’s late-season resilience and left the NL playoff picture still unsettled.
how the comeback unfolded
The Dodgers looked in control after six innings, leading 4–0 thanks to strong pitching and an early advantage. Arizona chipped away in the seventh with a three-run surge — highlighted by Adrian Del Castillo’s pinch-hit two-run homer — and then produced the game-tying run in the ninth.
Jorge Barrosa delivered a sacrifice fly to tie it, and Perdomo followed with the walk-off single that sent Chase Field into celebration. The win kept Arizona just a game or so behind the final wild-card positions and preserved the club’s postseason hopes.
Why this matters in the wild-card hunt
With fewer regular-season games left, every swing matters. The Dodgers’ lead in the division tightened competition across the NL West, but it’s Arizona’s ability to rally late that makes them dangerous to any challengers.
The D-backs sit within reach of a wild-card berth — and a win or two more in the closing days could force a multi-team scramble for the final spots. For Los Angeles, the loss shows that even strong starting pitching can be undone by late bullpen slips and timely hitting.
Players and moments that defined the night
- Geraldo Perdomo: the hero with a walk-off single in the ninth. His finish capped a comeback that began earlier and showed clutch timing.
- Adrian Del Castillo: a late impact bat — his pinch-hit two-run homer in the seventh ignited the rally and shifted momentum.
- Shohei Ohtani: despite a strong six-inning start for the Dodgers (eight strikeouts, no walks), the bullpen’s late struggles let the game slip away. The box score shows how a single inning can change the outcome.
Tactical takeaways — pitching, benches and late strategy
Arizona’s manager used his bench well: the Del Castillo pinch-hit was the tactical turning point. In close September games, managers who trust pinch-hit matchups and late-inning small decisions often come out on top.
For the Dodgers, the game again highlighted the bullpen’s thin margin for error — even elite starters need reliable relief arms to close tight races.
What the standings say (context)
The D-backs remain just outside the wild-card cutoff but are within striking distance if they keep winning. Meanwhile, the Dodgers saw their lead narrow in a division where every swing votes.
League standings sites and MLB projections will update quickly after the result, but the short version is clear: Arizona’s win keeps the race alive and raises the stakes for the final days of the regular season.
What to watch next
- Arizona’s schedule: watch their remaining matchups and whether the club can string together wins. Late rallies are great, but consistent wins win playoff spots.
- Bullpen usage: Dodgers relievers will be under scrutiny after surrendering the lead — expect changes to late-inning plans.
- Key matchups: any upcoming games against division rivals could swing tiebreakers and wild-card math. Check MLB’s standings page for nightly updates.
Sources: Reuters game report on the D-backs’ walk-off and MLB standings pages.