Maldonado's walk-off ends 17-inning marathon
MILWAUKEE -- Martin Maldonado hit a home run to dead center in the 17th inning as the Brewers walked off the D-backs, 7-6, on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park.
Maldonado's blast came with one out off Arizona lefty Vidal Nuno, who had come on to pitch in the 12th.
"I saw something up and put a good swing on it," said Maldonado, who caught all 17 innings. "That's what I was looking for. I was really tired so I was happy to end the game like that."
It was all hands on deck for both teams as they ran through all of their position players, and after the Brewers matched a franchise record by using nine pitchers, they were forced to turn to Monday's scheduled starter, Matt Garza, who went five innnigs to earn the win.
The D-backs had leads of 4-0 and 5-1 before the Brewers rallied to take a 6-5 lead in the sixth. Arizona tied the score again in the eighth on a Mark Trumbo home run.
Video: ARI@MIL: Trumbo ties the game with a solo shot in 8th
"It was a long game," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "Those games are tough for the guys, especially the road team. It's tough to win those games. We had many opportunities to score. We couldn't get the job done. Early in the game, we were rolling, but we sort of let it get away there."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Goldschmidt at it again: One day after hitting a pair of home runs and driving in four runs, D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt rapped out three hits including his 15th homer of the year. Goldschmidt came into the game with a .489 batting average at Miller Park, the best average of any player there with a minimum of 40 at-bats. In addition to his three hits, Goldschmidt also walked three times to reach base a club-record seven times.
No. 800 for No. 8: When Ryan Braun punched a run-scoring single to right field amid a two-run Brewers rally in the fifth inning, it gave him 800 RBIs in 1,128 Major League games. Braun has 38 RBIs this season, including 34 since April 28 -- most in the Majors since that date.
Video: ARI@MIL: Braun plates Segura with a single to right
New pitcher, same problem: Working with a 6-5 lead, Brewers reliever Jonathan Broxton coaxed a double-play grounder from Goldschmidt during a scoreless seventh inning in Broxton's first appearance since being removed from eighth-inning duties. But his replacement in the setup role, Jeremy Jeffress, surrendered a tying home run to Trumbo with one out in the eighth that found the short porch in right field.
Leaving 'em stranded: D-backs outfielder Ender Inciarte, who came on to replace David Peralta after his first-inning injury, stranded runners in scoring position in the ninth, 11th, 13th and 15th innings.
"I was just trying to do my thing," Inciarte said. "I didn't have my best day. I couldn't get a hit in the important situation."
Debut disappointment: The Brewers trailed by as many as four runs in the early going, but scored in every inning from the third through the sixth to spare rookie right-hander Tyler Wagner, a right-hander up from Double-A Biloxi who was tagged for five runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. Manager Craig Counsell announced after the game that Wagner will be sent back down to Double-A Biloxi.
Video: ARI@MIL: Wagner fans Trumbo for first MLB strikeout
QUOTABLE
"We won two out of three, but it's tough to let that one slip through your hands," -- Hale
"These guys laid it down for 17 [innings]. Whatever they need, I was going to do. After the second inning I knew I had ruined my start, so I said, 'Why not? Let's go.'" -- Garza, on pitching in relief despite being scheduled to start Monday
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The game was the longest ever played by time at Miller Park (5:49), surpassing the previous high of 5:22 (April 24, 2014 vs. Washington and April 22, 2004 vs. Arizona).
UPON REVIEW
The Brewers lost their challenge in the fourth inning, when Carlos Gomez was doubled off second base on Elian Herrera's popup to shortstop. Thinking the bloop might fall into left field, Gomez danced toward third, then couldn't get back to the bag in time when Cliff Pennington made a quick catch-and-throw. Upon review, the call stood.
Video: ARI@MIL: D-backs get double play after review in 4th
INJURY UPDATE
Left fielder Peralta was hit on his left middle finger by a pitch while attempting to bunt in the first inning. Peralta was forced to leave the game, but X-rays taken at Miller Park were negative.
Video: ARI@MIL: Peralta injures hand on bunt attempt, exits
WHAT'S NEXT
D-backs: The D-backs return to Chase Field on Monday to open a seven-game homestand against the Braves and Mets. Archie Bradley will get the start at 6:40 p.m. MT for the D-backs as he looks to right the ship after three straight poor starts.
Brewers: The Brewers hit the road Sunday night for their second consecutive three-city road trip, this time to St. Louis, Minnesota and Pittsburgh. Mike Fiers will start Monday's 7:10 p.m. CT series opener against the Cardinals. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy is expected to return to the starting lineup after nearly six weeks on the disabled list for a fractured toe.