Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez hit a grand slam into the Green Monster seats at Fenway Park on Friday to secure a 12-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.
The D-backs (73-56) have hit a league-leading nine grand slams this season, tying the franchise record (2001). The National League record is 12 (1997 Atlanta, 2000 St. Louis) and the MLB record is 14 (2006 Cleveland, 2000 Oakland).
The D-backs had the bases loaded and no one out in the first inning after Corbin Carroll hit a leadoff single against Boston’s Brayan Bello. Arizona took a 2-0 lead but left no opponents on the pond after two excellent defensive plays.
When the opportunity arose again in the seventh inning, Suarez attacked a Josh Winckowski cutter in the zone and hit it to the first row. The veteran had three hits and five RBIs on Friday.
Suárez SLAM sets off in Boston. pic.twitter.com/uEfLEW4hV8
— MLB (@MLB) 24 August 2024
Suarez hit a grand slam in an 11-4 win at home against the Colorado Rockies on August 14. In 125 games this season, he has 19 home runs and 74 RBIs, posting an OPS of .731.
The Diamondbacks scored at least nine runs for the third time in four games and the 26th time this season to lead the league. The San Diego Padres were in second place with 20 games played before Friday.
Arizona scored three runs in the ninth inning, the first of which came on an RBI double by Geraldo Perdomo, his third hit of the night.
The Diamondbacks scored 12 runs for the tenth time and are also at the top of the MLB.
Ryne Nelson gives the Diamondbacks quality against the Red Sox
Starter Ryne Nelson gave the Diamondbacks the win by throwing six innings with two earned runs and seven strikeouts. He has pitched at least six innings five times in his last six starts.
Diamondbacks manager said Burns & Gambo by Arizona Sports Before the first pitch, the club moved Jordan Montgomery to the bullpen position, so Nelson remained in the starting lineup.
Nelson ran into trouble early when Red Sox outfielders Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu each hit a double in the first inning to put a run on the board after just two batters, but Nelson struck out the next eight hitters.
Boston had the bases loaded with two outs in the third inning, but Nelson struck out Rob Refsnyder on three pitches to end the threat. That began nine more hitters that Nelson struck out in order.
Refsnyder got Nelson back with a solo shot in the sixth inning, but Nelson handed the ball off to the bullpen in a great situation. Arizona has won eight of its last nine starts.
Nelson fought hard with his four-seamer and cutter (81%) and challenged the Red Sox hitters all evening.
The Diamondbacks are next
The Diamondbacks have won four games in a row and have a chance to win another series on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. They are 17 games over .500 for the first time since 2017.
The pitchers’ duel is Zac Gallen from Arizona against Cutter Crawford from Boston.
Follow the game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
