The NL West division leading Arizona Diamondbacks entered Saturday’s game with a 38-25 record as they looked to take the series against the Detroit Tigers. Thanks to phenomenal pitching by Ryne Nelson, the bullpen holding it down, and Cuban Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hitting a three run homer to give the Diamondbacks the final three run of the ballgame to shutout the Tigers to a final score of 5-0.
In the 2022/2023 offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks struck a deal sending outfielder/catcher Daulton Varsho to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno. This instantly looked like a win for the Diamondbacks, and although Varsho has been a crucial piece for his new team, Gurriel Jr. is on his way to becoming an NL All-star.
In 2023, the youngest Gurriel brother’s is slashing .309/.357/.559/.916 with ten home runs, 38 RBIs, and a 149 OPS+. The change of scenery has truly helped Lourdes have a great season and on Saturday, he played a big role in the Diamondbacks 5-0 win.
In the top of the fifth inning, with Arizona leading 2-0, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. stepped up to the plate with men on first and second with two outs. The pitcher, Matthew Boyd, who has struggled this season threw a76.1 MPH curveball in the lower portion of the strike zone. That was just enough for Lourdes to crush the baseball 418 feet deep into left field and leaving the bat at 106.7 MPH. That was Gurriel Jr.’s 10th home run of the season. He already surpassed his 2022 season high of five home runs by five and is on pace to have a career high in homers.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with a 3-run blast! pic.twitter.com/uuvBwSZYyx
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 10, 2023
Arizona goes to 39-28 on the season which keeps the Dodgers two and a half games back from first place in the NL West which features the Giants, Padres, and Rockies. Sundays matchup will feature 2023 Cy Young candidate Zac Gallen against Tigers lefty Joey Wentz.