Diamondbacks’ Geraldo Perdomo Delivers Thrilling Walk-Off Win Over Dodgers, Keeps Wild Card Dreams Alive in Dramatic Late-Season Surge
Now it is getting real. Down by one run in the last half of the ninth inning, the Arizona Diamondbacks were not only down to their last three outs, but this could have gone down as their last meaningful game of the season. But the playoff-like atmosphere in downtown Phoenix was not going to let it happen. More importantly, Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and team were not going to let it happen. Perdomo delivered a clutch single to drive in the winning run and the D-backs walked off with a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With the win, Arizona pulls even with the Cincinnati Reds, both chasing the New York Mets for the final National League Wild Card spot. The hunt is on, and thanks to Perdomo, the Diamondbacks are still very much in it.
Two Out, Full Count, Perdomo Delivers the Unlikely Win
The D-Backs win seemed improbable with Shohei Ohtani on the mound until the end of the sixth inning, and the Dodgers up 4-0. Then… this happened:
- The D-Backs scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 4-3.
- The D-Backs seemingly ran themself out of a tie or the lead in the bottom of the eighth when catcher Gabriel Moreno was caught stealing second. Before the out, Arizona had two runners on, and one out. Now with Corbin Carroll on third and two outs, Blaze Alexander struck out to end the inning.
- The D-Backs bullpen, which has coughed up more than 25 saves this year, continued to hold the Dodgers back to set up the dramatic finish.
- The D-Backs ninth inning:
- Ildemaro Jose Vargas was hit by pitch
- Tim Tawa, who had an amazing diving catch in left field at the top of the inning, drew a walk.
- A two-strike bunt by James McCann moved runners to second and third.
- The ninth hitter in the lineup, Jorge Barrosa hit a sacrifice fly with two strikes in the count, to tie the game.
- Then Perdomo, who has a 12 game hitting streak, came up with two outs, and Tawa on second base….
- Perdomo then delivered the walk-off hit .. and the final score was 5-4 and the celebration began.
Ohtani’s Dominance Sets the Stage
For six innings, it was the Shohei Ohtani show. The Dodgers’ two-way superstar was untouchable on the mound, baffling Diamondbacks hitters and racking up eight strikeouts in a masterful, scoreless performance. While Ohtani was dealing, his offense built a comfortable 4-0 lead, highlighted by Teoscar Hernández’s early solo home run and a subsequent two-run triple that seemed to put the game out of reach. The Dodgers looked every bit the part of a division leader cruising to another win.
Del Castillo Ignites a Fire
Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, the Diamondbacks’ offense roared to life in the seventh inning. Facing the Dodgers’ bullpen, manager Torey Lovullo made a pivotal move, sending Adrian Del Castillo to the plate as a pinch-hitter. Del Castillo seized the moment, launching a towering two-run home run that cut the deficit in half and sent a jolt of energy through the stadium. James McCann followed up with an RBI double, and suddenly, a 4-0 laugher was a tight 4-3 ballgame. The comeback was officially on, leading to the Perdomo heroics.
The Wild Card Picture Heats Up
This victory was massive for Arizona. With the win, they moved into a tie with the Reds, just one game behind the Mets for the final playoff spot. However, the road ahead is tough. While the Diamondbacks hold the tiebreaker over the Mets, they do not have it against the Reds, meaning every single one of their five remaining games is crucial. The Dodgers, meanwhile, saw their NL West lead shrink to just 1.5 games over the charging San Diego Padres, adding another layer of drama to the season’s final week.
“We always say the Diamondbacks are never out of the game, and we proved that today,” Perdomo said in a post game TV interview.
“A highly charged moment, in a highly-charged stadium. It was a great moment for this team,” manager Torey Lovullo said in his post game press conference.
