KANSAS CITY -- On paper, it shaped up as a daunting task for the Diamondbacks. Arizona was going with a bullpen committee approach against the Royals on Monday, and facing reigning American League Pitcher of the Month Noah Cameron.
Thanks to a herculean effort by the bullpen, the D-backs pulled it off.
The Arizona relief corps shut out the Royals for nine innings before the D-backs’ offense got busy in the 10th, scoring five runs to boost Arizona to a 5-4 victory at Kauffman Stadium.
A sacrifice fly by Lars Nootbaar put the D-backs on top, and then Geraldo Perdomo provided some insurance with an RBI single against veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel. An error by right fielder John Rave allowed the third run to score, and Arizona put it into overdrive from there.
Derek Law was used as an opener and set the tone with two scoreless innings, and Jose Cabrera, Taylor Clarke, Brandyn Garcia and Justin Martinez combined for seven more zeros before the D-backs’ offense erupted in the 10th.
The Diamondbacks (77-68) are 3-1 on their current six-game road trip.
This is the third game in at least the divisional era (1969) to be scoreless through nine innings and end with each team having scored at least four runs, joining the Astros-Athletics (April 24, 2015) and White Sox-Mariners (June 5, 2013).