Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera (11) hits a home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on September 21, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Credit: Michael McClune Images
The Diamondbacks won the series by defeating the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-0, at American Family Field. Catcher Jose Herrera had an unforgettable game, hitting his first career home run in the fifth inning and pitching a complete game shutout win as a catcher. The win reduced the magic number for the postseason to just four, as both the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets won.
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“It’s special. I’ve worked hard for it for years,” Herrera said in an on-field interview with DbacksTV after the game. “The coaching staff was happy for me. Above all else, it’s about winning. That’s who I am. Everything I do is to help the team win.”
It was a sweet moment for a player who worked so hard for so long to get this opportunity. Herrera has been with the Diamondbacks organization since July 2023 and has bounced around the minor leagues the past three seasons. In his 350th career at-bat, he hit a curveball off Brewers starter Aaron Civale into the right field stands.
Jose Herrera hits his first career home run!!! pic.twitter.com/CKbIwNlWcM
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 22, 2024
“The count was 1-1 and he threw me a curveball. I was looking for something in the zone to hit it back to him. That’s when I got it all the way up the middle to him. I was really happy it went over the fence.”
Herrera knew the moment he touched the ball he had a chance to get the out, and when he returned to the dugout, he was greeted with hugs from all his teammates.
The Diamondbacks took the lead in the first inning against Civale when Ketel Marte singled with one out and then Joc Pederson hit a long hit to center field to give Arizona a 2-0 lead.
Merrill Kelly started well, jumping out to a 2-0 lead before even throwing the first pitch. He breezed through the first five innings, his only real offense coming in the form of back-to-back singles in the third inning. He relied on three different fastballs to get ahead in the count and keep Milwaukee on its toes.
Kelly was in complete control as a starter, striking out four consecutive batters, but cramping issues reared their ugly head again as he warmed up in the sixth inning. The game began on a warm night with an average temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit and 50% humidity. The right-hander quickly left the game due to cramps in his right calf, the same condition that sidelined him in two starts last season. It’s an issue the medical staff must address as Kelly is expected to be a key part of the starting rotation in the postseason.
“He was feeling fatigue in his right calf and maybe had a little discomfort,” manager Torey Lovullo said on Diamondbacks TV after the game. “I made the decision to take him out of the game. He was desperate to stay in the game. I told him he’d done his job and we had enough coverage in the bullpen. I know Merrill’s character well. He wants to do it for his teammates first. He knew the bullpen might be a little thin. I told him it was OK. We still have a lot of baseball to play to get where we want to be and I didn’t want to take any risks.”
Despite the early departure of the veteran starter, the Diamondbacks’ relief corps held its own in this game, with Joe Mantipule, Kevin Ginkel and AJ Pack pitching four perfect innings and shutting out the opposition with seven strikeouts each. Arizona’s offensive closer Ketel Marte sealed the game with his ninth home run of the season in the ninth inning.
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