Diamondbacks Secure Victory Amid Playoff Pressure
The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Colorado Rockies 7-2 at Coors Field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, extending their stay in the National League wild-card chase despite falling four games behind the Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, and Chicago Cubs.
All three contenders finished the day with identical 87-70 records, while Arizona (83-74) now faces a steep climb with only five games left in the regular season. The Diamondbacks must win their remaining contests while hoping the Phillies, Cubs, and Padres lose theirs to stay in contention.
Manager Torey Lovullo emphasized controlling the controllable, telling his team to take care of business each day regardless of the standings. The squad used the day’s results as fuel, noting the final score of the Phillies’ 6-4 victory over Milwaukee during the third or fourth inning.
Soroka Dominates Despite Elevation Challenges
Starting pitcher Michael Soroka provided a strong foundation for the win, allowing just one earned run on two hits over seven innings. He struck out nine batters and walked only one, navigating the thin air of Denver with precision.
"This elevation can kind of just punish mistakes a little bit more," Soroka said. "But we made a conscious effort to get in front of it and just make sure everything got finished with that breaking ball."
The Diamondbacks’ offense erupted early, scoring three runs in the first inning. Geraldo Perdomo contributed three hits, while Ildemaro Vargas added two to set the tone for the afternoon.
Key Moments and Team Dynamics
Former Rockies All-Star Nolan Arenado hit a solo home run in the seventh inning for his 28th of the year, coming within a triple of hitting for the cycle. Despite the loss, Arenado remained focused on competition.
"It's not fun when you see the teams that are winning that shouldn't be... But besides that, we're trying to compete," Arenado said.
Team resilience was highlighted by Perdomo’s reaction to the pressure. "We're human!" he said, acknowledging the emotional weight of the playoff race.
Lovullo reinforced this mindset, stating, "We've got life. We've got a heartbeat. We don't have an 'E' ('eliminated') next to our name."
Strategic Moves and Defensive Lapses
The Diamondbacks committed two errors during the game. Tim Tawa made a mistake on a shallow fly to left field that led to an unearned run, while Perdomo had another error with no consequences.
Ketel Marte was in the lineup as the designated hitter and avoided injury after going headfirst into first base. Lovullo planned to have Marte play defense in the last two games of the series.
As the regular season winds down, the Diamondbacks remain mathematically alive, relying on their own performance and the misfortunes of their rivals to keep their playoff hopes intact.