The Arizona Diamondbacks secured a dramatic 8-4 extra-inning victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night, but the win was tinged with concern as reliever Justin Martinez exited the game in the ninth inning due to tightness in his pitching elbow.
Martinez had entered the ninth to protect a 4-0 lead, making quick work of Jorge Polanco and Randy Arozarena with two strikeouts. However, after throwing a pitch to Dylan Moore, the right-hander immediately signaled for an athletic trainer, prompting his early departure.
His replacement, Jeff Brigham, faced an uphill battle. He surrendered consecutive RBI singles to Donovan Solano and Cole Young. The Mariners then completed a stunning comeback when Dominic Canzone, who had been called up from Triple-A Tacoma earlier in the day, launched a towering 450-foot, two-run home run to right field – his first major league homer of the season – tying the game at 4-4. Juan Morillo eventually stabilized the inning, retiring Cal Raleigh with two runners on base.
The game remained knotted until the 11th inning. There, Josh Naylor delivered the decisive blow, launching a game-ending grand slam to secure an exhilarating 8-4 victory for the Diamondbacks. While the win was sweet, the status of Justin Martinez’s elbow remains a primary concern for the team.
