The first of two games between the Indians and D-backs started on Tuesday. It ended on Wednesday.
The two teams matched the longest game in Chase Field history, going 14 innings before they could decide a winner. The D-backs came emerged as the victors five hours and 32 minutes after the game began, winning 9-8 on an Aaron Hill walk-off single. But by that point, the game had already encompassed a series worth of action.
“It’s one of those games where stuff went up and down, up and down, up and down,” pitcher Mark Lowe said. “That, in and of itself, takes a toll on everybody.”
Lowe picked up the loss after facing the last of the 130 plate appearances. He started the bottom of the 14th with the score knotted at 8, before giving up a single to Gerardo Parra – the outfielder’s fifth hit of the game.
Parra then stole second, injuring his finger on the slide. There was no one left on the bench to replace him, so he stayed in the game and scored the winning run.
“Both teams were spent,” manager Terry Francona said. “Neither team had anybody left to hit.”
Both teams had numerous chances to end the game before the 14th. The D-backs were the first — but not the last — to blink.
D-backs closer Addison Reed came into the game with a chance to end it in the ninth, but it was not to be. The Indians rallied, scoring the tying run on a single by catcher Yan Gomes.
In the 11th, it looked like the Indians would walk away with a stolen road win. Carlos Santana launched a two-run homer into the visitor’s bullpen in right field.
But the D-backs showed resilience not often seen during their 33-47 season. They came back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs — one on a solo home run by rookie David Peralta and the other on a single by fellow rookie Ender Inciarte.
The Indians had runners in scoring position with one out in the 12th, but couldn’t score. In the 13th, Jason Kipnis tried to win the game by himself on a triple to center field, but got thrown out trying to turn it into an inside-the-park home run.
“Two outs, you got to go,” Francona said. “I was yelling the whole way, even when he was out.”
Before then, both teams had already faced their share of adversity.
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