The Arizona Diamondbacks matched a season high with their sixth straight win on Friday, but all anybody wanted to talk about afterward was a remarkable play by a young fan in the left field bleachers.
The play resulted in plenty of buzz online around the Diamondbacks, who continue their four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday in Phoenix.
Arizona emerged with a 10-8 victory on Friday, but only after a unique play in the seventh inning when the fan took the ball out of Reds left fielder Spencer Steer’s glove on Tommy Pham’s apparent home run.
Pham eventually was ruled out due to fan interference after video review. Even with the home run coming off the scoreboard and a four-run rally by the Reds in the top of the ninth, the Diamondbacks held on for their second win of the series.
“It was a pretty amazing play,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “It looked like it was in Steer’s glove and the kid just stole it from him. I don’t know how (the young fan) did it.”
Pham delivered a two-run single earlier in the game and is hitting .290 (18-for-62) with three homers and 16 RBIs during his 15-game hitting streak, which is the longest active streak in the majors.
Arizona has won 11 of its past 13 to move a half-game ahead of the Chicago Cubs for the second National League wild-card spot. Cincinnati has lost two straight following a three-game winning streak and sits one game back of the third and final wild-card berth.
The Reds trailed 10-4 in the ninth inning on Friday inning before making things interesting with Will Benson’s first career grand slam.
“Our offense did a good job of continuing to battle,” Reds manager David Bell said. “They gave us an opportunity at the end and at that point in the game that’s what you’re looking for.”
Cincinnati will have right-hander Fernando Cruz (1-1, 4.30 ERA) serve as the opener on Saturday. He last pitched on Wednesday, when he tossed a scoreless inning of relief in both games of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels.
In a pair of games against Arizona in July, Cruz gave up a combined three runs in two innings for an ERA of 13.50. Those are the only times he has faced the Diamondbacks.
Right-hander Zach Davies (1-5, 7.38) will return from the injured list (lower back inflammation) to start for Arizona. He is making his first start since July 18, when he allowed nine runs over 3 2/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves.
Davies, 30, made three minor-league rehab outings with Triple-A Reno. He’s excited about jumping back into a playoff race after allowing three earned runs over six innings for the Aces last Sunday.
“It’s fun baseball,” Davies said. “I’ve been on teams where we’re losing down the stretch, I’ve been on teams where we’re winning down the stretch. When you’re playing meaningful September baseball, it’s always fun.”
Davies is 3-5 with a 4.09 ERA in 18 career starts versus Cincinnati. He gave up three runs over two outings covering 13 innings against the Reds last season.
The Diamondbacks are looking to even the season series against the Reds at three games apiece. Cincinnati’s impressive young roster includes second baseman Matt McLain, who has made a case for National League Rookie of the Year while hitting .293 with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs.
“No situation has been too big for him,” Bell said. “He’s just been consistently really good for us. He loves to play. He has fun doing it. He’s confident — very confident — in a good way. He knows he belongs here. He knows how good he can be.”