In the ninth inning, Marte homers to secure the lead in consecutive Arizona Diamondbacks games, with offensive contributions from both sides of the plate while playing against Texas.
In a thrilling series finale, the Arizona Diamondbacks secured a 6-4 victory over the Texas Rangers, with Ketel Marte playing a pivotal role. Marte, a switch-hitter, has been a key contributor for the Diamondbacks this season, boasting a solid batting average of around .297, 23 home runs, and 54 RBIs in 88 games [1][2].
Marte's offensive prowess was on full display against the Rangers. In the ninth inning, he hit a crucial three-run homer, securing the win for Arizona [3]. This homer came less than 24 hours after Marte's solo shot in the final at-bat, which resulted in a 3-2 victory [4].
Marte's homer, a 413-foot shot to right field, was his fourth hit of the game. He also contributed an RBI single in the first inning [4].
On the mound, Zac Gallen started for the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs over five innings [6]. Meanwhile, Merrill Kelly, a former teammate of Marte, made his first start against the Diamondbacks since being traded to the Rangers. Kelly put up a respectable performance, striking out five over six innings [5].
Kelly, who spent 7 1/2 seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being traded, expressed enjoyment at seeing his former teammates during his first start against them [7].
Marte's impressive performance on the road continues, as he currently holds an NL-best .329 batting average in road games [2]. This consistent performance has made him a cornerstone for the Diamondbacks' lineup this season, combining steady contact, solid power numbers, and positional flexibility [1][2][5].
The series win marks a significant moment for Gallen, as his 61 wins with Arizona are one shy of matching Merrill Kelly for the third-most in team history [8].
In the final innings, Phil Maton entered the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth and struck out the first three batters he faced on nine pitches [9]. James McCann homered with two outs in the ninth inning for the Rangers, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Diamondbacks from securing the win [10].
This victory marks a strong end to the series for the Diamondbacks, who will look to build on this momentum as they continue their season.
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