The Arizona Diamondbacks leveled the series against the Kansas City Royals with a decisive 6-2 win at Kauffman Stadium. The Diamondbacks quickly took control of the game with three runs in the first inning, setting the stage for Jordan Montgomery’s successful return from the injured list.
“It was a great bounce-back win,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said in a postgame interview with Jody Jackson on Dbacks TV. “Yesterday was tough for all of us. We knew what went wrong, and today we executed perfectly in the first inning.”
Singles from Corbin Carroll and Joc Pederson, along with a walk to Ketel Marte, loaded the bases with no outs against Royals’ right-hander Alec Marsh. Despite strong defensive plays that limited Christian Walker and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Gabriel Moreno broke through with a two-run single, ensuring a three-run inning.
The Royals made a brief comeback when Bobby Witt Jr. drove in Garrett Hampson with a line drive, cutting the lead to 3-1. However, Montgomery quickly regained control, retiring the next three hitters to prevent further damage.
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Montgomery settled into a rhythm, retiring seven consecutive batters after a single in the second inning. Despite a walk to Hunter Renfroe in the fourth, a critical play involving Renfroe getting caught stealing second allowed Montgomery to escape the inning with minimal pitches.
“It was a crucial moment,” Lovullo said. “We were close to having two runners on in a tight 3-1 game, but that out changed everything.”
This pivotal play allowed Montgomery to extend his outing to five innings, finishing with one run allowed on three hits, one walk, and two strikeouts over 67 pitches. Lovullo praised Montgomery’s effective use of his changeup and aggressive fastball.
“The changeup was key for him today,” Lovullo noted. “He gained confidence with it, and it helped him stay in control.”
The Diamondbacks extended their lead in the fifth inning. Geraldo Perdomo doubled, and Ketel Marte followed with a powerful line drive home run off the right field pole. Initially ruled foul, the call was overturned after a discussion among the umpires.
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“I saw the ball hit the pole and knew it was a home run,” Marte said in a postgame interview.
With Montgomery completing the requisite five innings for the win, the bullpen took over. Bryce Jarvis delivered two scoreless innings, striking out Witt in the seventh. Joe Mantiply and Ryan Thompson combined to hold the Royals scoreless in the eighth, while Kevin Ginkel allowed a run in the ninth but secured the win with a double play initiated by Marte.
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