PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks secured a narrow 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on April 8, 2025, at Chase Field, improving their record to 6-6 in the National League West. The Orioles, now 5-7 in the American League East, struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, leaving the game in the hands of Arizona’s bullpen, which held firm in the late innings.
Corbin Carroll led the Diamondbacks’ offense, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the third inning off Orioles starter Charlie Morton. Carroll’s blast gave Arizona a 2-1 lead, and he later scored again in the fifth on a two-run double by Josh Naylor, which proved to be the decisive blow. Naylor finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs, boosting Arizona’s lead to 4-1. The Diamondbacks’ pitching staff, anchored by starter Merrill Kelly, weathered a late Orioles rally to seal the win.
Kelly earned the victory, improving to 2-1 despite a 7.20 ERA. He pitched six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits while striking out four. The game took a dramatic turn in the seventh when Kelly and Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo were ejected by first-base umpire Laz Diaz following a heated exchange. Arizona’s bullpen stepped up, with Shelby Miller, A.J. Puk, and Justin Martinez combining for three scoreless innings. Martinez earned his second save, retiring the Orioles in order in the ninth.
For Baltimore, Charlie Morton took the loss, dropping to 0-3 with an 8.78 ERA. Morton surrendered four runs on four hits over five innings, including Carroll’s homer. The Orioles’ offense sputtered early, managing just four hits total. Cedric Mullins provided a spark, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, including a two-run single in the seventh that cut Arizona’s lead to 4-3. However, Baltimore stranded runners in scoring position, finishing 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and leaving four on base.
The game showcased defensive miscues on both sides. Arizona’s Eugenio Suárez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. committed errors, while Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson made a throwing error. Despite the mistakes, the Diamondbacks turned two double plays to escape jams, while the Orioles managed three double plays of their own, including a pickoff by catcher Félix Sánchez.
Arizona’s early scoring began in the first when Carroll singled and later scored on a wild pitch by Morton. Baltimore tied it in the sixth on an unearned run following Suárez’s error, but Carroll’s homer in the third regained the lead for Arizona. Naylor’s double in the fifth extended the advantage, and the Diamondbacks’ bullpen shut the door.
The Orioles mounted a late threat in the seventh. Adley Rutschman singled and scored on Mullins’ hit, and Jorge Mateo stole two bases as a pinch runner, but Arizona’s relievers held firm. Puk worked around a single in the eighth, and Martinez closed it out in the ninth, striking out one.
The contest, attended by 23,843 fans, unfolded under clear skies with temperatures at 85 degrees. It lasted 2 hours and 37 minutes, with the first pitch thrown at 6:41 p.m. local time. The Diamondbacks remain fourth in the NL West, while the Orioles sit fourth in the AL East.
According to MLB.com, Carroll’s recent power surge has bolstered Arizona’s lineup, with his fourth homer of the season proving pivotal. For Baltimore, ESPN.com notes Morton’s struggles have been a recurring issue, with the veteran pitcher allowing at least four runs in each of his three starts this year.
