Arizona Diamondbacks David Peralta (6) celebrates his RBI walk-off base hit with teammates after a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won 4-3. (AP Photo/Matt York)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Monday, August 17, 2020

David Peralta’s run-scoring single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a 4-3 win over the visiting Oakand Athletics Monday in the first of a two-game series at Chase Field in Phoenix.

This was the Diamondbacks’ fifth consecutive win and ninth in their last 12 games, putting them above .500 for the first time in the shortened season. Oakland has MLB’s best record at 16-7.

Stefn Crichton (2-0) threw a scoreless ninth to get the win.

After Nick Ahmed led off the D-Backs ninth with a double off Oakland reliever Joakim Soria (1-1), Jake Diekman took over on the mound for the A’s. Kole Calhoun struck out, right before Ketel Marte singled to left, moving Ahmed to third.

Starling Marte was intentionally walked, loading the bases. With the outfield in, Peralta singled to right, scoring Ahmed.

Oakland tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the eighth. Matt Chapman’s sacrifice fly to right scored Vimael Machin, who singled and moved to third on Austin Allen’s double to right, cutting the Arizona lead to 3-2.

Ahmed’s error on Matt Olson’s grounder to short allowed Franklin Barreto – pinch-running for Allen – to score the tying run off D-Backs’ reliever Hector Rondon.

Robbie Grossman’s solo home run in the seventh inning put the A’s on the board after Arizona built a 3-0 lead.

The Diamondbacks scored twice in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Carson Kelly, preceded by Eduardo Escobar reaching on a fielder’s choice, driving in Peralta, who doubled.

Peralta opened the scoring for Arizona with a solo home run to right in the third inning off Athletics’ starter Chris Bassitt.

Bassitt surrendered three runs over 5 1/3 innings, with three strikeouts and three walks. Arizona starter Zac Gallen gave up one earned run in seven innings, with eight strikeouts and one walk.

The short series concludes Tuesday with a pitching matchup of right-handers – Frankie Montas (2-1, 1.57) for Oakland against the D-Backs’ Luke Weaver (0-3, 11.85).