The Arizona Diamondbacks made a jaw-dropping comeback on Friday at Wrigley Field, rallying from a 7-1 deficit with a 10-run eighth inning to take an 11-7 lead over the Chicago Cubs. However, they failed to close out the game, and the Cubs stormed back with a six-run rally in the bottom of the eighth, securing a dramatic 13-11 victory.
Despite the high-leverage situation, the D-backs did not use their top relievers to protect the lead. Instead, Bryce Jarvis and Joe Mantiply were called on, and they allowed six runs between them. Notably, Arizona’s most reliable arms—Justin Martinez, A.J.
Puk, Ryan Thompson, Shelby Miller, and Jalen Beeks—were not available for the crucial inning, as they had all pitched in previous games during the team’s recent sweep of the Miami Marlins.
The Diamondbacks’ Bullpen Woes Explained
The bullpen issues stemmed from manager Torey Lovullo’s decision to use his top relievers during the Marlins series. Martinez, Puk, and Beeks had been called on to close out games in back-to-back days, leaving them unavailable for Friday’s game.
Lovullo acknowledged this decision after the game, saying, “I sold out for the win yesterday… I thought why not secure the win? A win is a win. And it hurt us today.”
In the Marlins series, Arizona had a 6-1 lead in the eighth inning on Wednesday, so Lovullo used his best relievers to finish the job. The following day, he relied on Martinez and Beeks again to hold off a late charge, and Puk earned the save. Lovullo hinted that this heavy usage led to the bullpen’s shortage for Friday’s game.
A Blown Opportunity After Strong Start
Starter Corbin Burnes delivered a solid six-inning outing, but Ryne Nelson, tasked with providing length in a one-run game, struggled. Nelson gave up five runs, including a grand slam by Ian Happ, failing to get through the seventh inning.
With the bullpen stretched thin, Lovullo turned to Jarvis, Mantiply, and Miller. The plan was to save Miller, who has been flawless this season, for the ninth inning. But with the D-backs ahead 11-7, things unraveled. Jarvis allowed a three-run homer to Carson Kelly, and Mantiply gave up six straight hits, including a go-ahead home run to Kyle Tucker.
A Frustrating Game for the D-backs
Lovullo didn’t hold back in his postgame comments, saying, “When you don’t command the baseball, this is what happens.” He also acknowledged the wild nature of the game, noting, “It’s probably very entertaining for the fans, but super frustrating for us. We know that we’re a better team than that, and we’ve got to find a way to make pitches when it counts.”
In the end, it was a heartbreaking loss for Arizona, as a game that seemed all but wrapped up slipped away due to a combination of bullpen fatigue and poor execution.
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