PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks were set to have the bases loaded with two outs while trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, but a baserunning mistake ended the game prematurely.
Corbin Carroll hit a weak one-hopper to the left side with runners on first and second, and Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson had no chance of throwing the speedster out.
Swanson knew that and faked the throw, turning his attention to third base where pinch runner Garrett Hampson rounded too far off the bag. Swanson beat Hampson back to third, and Hampson’s desperate evasive move did not save the game. Swanson dove for the tag and pumped his fist, while Hampson stayed down in disbelief.
Dansby Swanson's heads up play closes out the game for the Cubs! ? pic.twitter.com/l3WmA5Ophy
— MLB (@MLB) March 30, 2025
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How did the Diamondbacks’ baserunning mistake happen?
Hampson explained he was trying to do too much in the situation.
“Corbin hit it softly, so just trying to be aggressive,” Hampson said. “Maybe if they throw it to first, try to score the run. But understanding one of the fastest guys in the league who hit it, there’s probably no play at first. So, yeah, bad play, cost us a chance to tie it there.”
“I knew Corbin was not going to be out at first base, just too much speed there,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “Dansby is a crafty player. He’s very heady, and he was very aware of that. I saw the play happening before he faking that throw, because as soon as that bounce happened, my clock was very aware of it, and so was Dansby. And we got clipped. We got clipped just being super aggressive. But we’ll talk. We’ll figure that out.”
The Diamondbacks entered the ninth inning trailing 4-1 with Cubs closer Ryan Pressly entering the game. Josh Naylor led off with a single to bring up the red-hot Eugenio Suarez, who had homered three times over the club’s first two games. Suarez took Pressly deep, to become the first player in D-backs history with four homers over the first three games to start a season.
Gabriel Moreno drove a single the other way to right field, and Arizona subbed in Hampson to pinch run, still with no outs.
Jake McCarthy struck out and Geraldo Perdomo popped up, bringing Ketel Marte to the plate, who drew a walk.
That’s what put Carroll in position to win the game, or at least extend it. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was due up next.
“He’s in the game to steal base, he’s in the game to score a run, make something happen,” Lovullo said of Hampson. “So he’s on edge. … I just think he had to slow down the moment, understand the type of play that needed to be made and exactly what Corbin was going to be doing down the line. I know what Garrett was thinking.”
“If he throws it, I might take a gamble there,” Hampson said, explaining he’s done it before. “I know the third baseman kind of went for it, too. So, credit to Dansby. That was a great play.”
Swanson told the Cubs’ TV broadcast after the game there was no chance at getting Carroll so he already knew he would fake the throw and see where the runners were. He called it split vision.
The Diamondbacks certainly did not do themselves many favors throughout the game in order to get the win. Sloppy defense continued from the opening two games, and they made a couple outs on the bases. Lovullo said his club will have to tighten up the details to win these close games.
That needs to happen quickly.
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