Drooid Logo
Back to story perspectives

Full Breakdown

Diamondbacks Rally Past Athletics in 10-Inning Thriller

7/22/2026, 12:14:25 PM

Game Summary

Arizona secured a 6-5 victory over Oakland in the bottom of the 10th inning, snapping a two-run lead with two outs in the ninth. After Paul Sewald recorded the first two outs, Donovan Walton’s triple and Jacob Wilson’s two-run homer tied the game. The A’s took a 5-4 lead on Jonah Heim’s sacrifice fly, but Luis Medina walked two to load the bases. Nolan Arenado’s bloop single and Ildemaro Vargas’s chopper through left-field delivered the walk-off hit, giving Arizona its seventh win in nine games.

Key Performances

  • Ildemaro Vargas – game-winning single in the 10th.
  • Jacob Wilson – seventh homer of the season, a two-run blast that erased a two-run deficit.
  • Donovan Walton – triple that set up the rally.
  • Nolan Arenado – single that tied the game in the 10th.
  • Luis Medina (2-2) – walked twice to load the bases, creating the winning opportunity.
  • Max Kepler – three-run homer in the first inning for Arizona.
  • Ketel Marte – sacrifice fly in the seventh extending the lead to 4-1.
  • Shea Langeliers – solo homer in the eighth, his 23rd of the season, narrowing the gap to 4-2.

Pitching Overview

Arizona starter Kohl Drake allowed a run-scoring single to Alika Williams in the third but escaped a bases-loaded jam, finishing with four hits, one run, and five strikeouts over five innings. Oakland starter Jack Perkins, who entered the season with the third-highest ERA (6.87) among pitchers with at least 50 innings, surrendered Kepler’s three-run first-inning homer, then permitted three runs and five hits over five innings.

Season Context & Impact

The win marks Arizona’s seventh triumph in nine games, improving its recent form after a series of close contests. Oakland, meanwhile, has lost 12 of its last 14 games, underscoring a challenging stretch for the Athletics. The upcoming series finale pits Arizona’s Merrill Kelly (7-8, 5.20 ERA) against Oakland’s Gage Jump (3-5, 3.78 ERA), a matchup that could further influence both clubs’ positioning in the National League West.