Walker, Diamondbacks strike early, rout White Sox 12-5
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 16: Christian Walker #53 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with Jake McCarthy #31 after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Chase Field on June 16, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX - Christian Walker drove in three runs with a home run and a double and the Arizona Diamondbacks routed the Chicago White Sox 12-5 on Sunday.
Walker hit a solo homer in the first inning, singled in the third and drove in two more with a bases-loaded double in a six-run fourth inning as Arizona won two of three in the series. With a chance at a cycle, Walker struck out and hit into a double play in his final two at-bats.
The Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll left the game in the seventh inning after making an awkward throw from center field. The 2023 NL Rookie of the Year is scheduled for an MRI on Monday but said he was feeling better after the game.
"Went to throw and just felt a pull feeling, not super painful, very general," Carroll said. "But all indications are leaning to the positive. I hope to be out there for the Washington series."
Arizona starter Jordan Montgomery (5-4) benefitted from the offensive outburst. He pitched five innings, giving up four hits, one unearned run — caused by his own error — walked two and struck out seven.
"Montgomery was on the attack," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "Good finish to his pitches. I could have sent him back out, but I wanted to get the bullpen some work with the off day (Monday).
"The guys were extremely engaged and focused. Good start and it continued from there."
Montgomery threw 84 pitches, with effective off-speed pitches, and Arizona was leading 10-1 when he came out.
"It was a good game," said Montgomery, who has struggled this season after signing at the end of spring training and has an ERA of 6.00. "Gabby (Moreno) called a great game. Defense was great and we swung the bats really well."
As for the changeup, he said, "I’m just throwing them, not trying to aim them."
Tune in to FOX 10 Phoenix for the latest news
The Diamondbacks bounced back from a 9-2 loss Saturday night, jumping on Chicago’s Drew Thorpe who was making his second major league start. Corbin Carroll walked on four pitches and Ketel Marte lined a single to right and Joc Pederson followed with a double to right, scoring both runners. Pederson was out trying to stretch it into a triple, but Walker hit Thorpe’s next pitch into the seats in left center for his 16th homer to make it 3-0.
In the fourth, the Diamondbacks loaded the bases on two hits and a walk. Marte hit a sacrifice fly and Pederson reached on catcher’s interference to re-load the bases. Chad Kuhl relieved Thorpe and Walker greeted him with the two-run double. Jake McCarthy hit a sacrifice fly and the final two runs of the inning scored on wild pitches — Kuhl threw three in the inning.
Thorpe (0-1) walked five and struck out none.
"Fastball was all over the place today," Thorpe said. "I didn’t have my best command today and it’s pretty hard to work around that. Get better for the next one."
Thorpe made his debut Tuesday in Seattle. The third-ranked prospect in Chicago’s farm system pitched five innings against the Mariners, giving up three hits and two runs (one earned), walking two and striking out four. Thorpe was acquired from San Diego in March in the trade that sent RHP Dylan Cease to the Padres.
Tommy Pham and Andrew Vaughn each had three hits for the White Sox, who out-hit the Diamondbacks 11-9.
Chicago, with the majors’ worst record at 19-54, fell well short in its bid to win just its second road series of the season. The White Sox are an MLB-worst 7-31 away from the South Side. They won two of three from the Cardinals May 3-5 in St. Louis.
Plate umpire Marvin Hudson left the game in the sixth inning after Walker’s foul ball hit him directly on the mask. Catcher Martín Maldonado grabbed Hudson and kept him from falling and the umpire was quickly assisted off the field. Second base umpire John Tumpane replaced Hudson behind the plate.
The game was played before a Father’s Day crowd of 37,694.
Sox moves
Chicago called up C Chuckie Robinson from Triple-A Charlotte, giving them three catchers on the roster with Maldonado and Korey Lee, who served as the DH on Sunday. OF Duke Ellis was designated for assignment.
Next
White Sox: Off day Monday. RHP Jonathan Cannon (0-1, 4.56 ERA) is scheduled to against Houston Tuesday night in Chicago.
Diamondbacks: Idle Monday. RHP Slade Cecconi (1-5, 6.70) starts the opener of a three-game series in Washington. RHP Jake Irvin (5-5, 3.00) goes for the Nationals.