Ketel Marte, Joc Pederson, and new player Josh Bell all hit home runs in the first inning for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
Corbin Carroll gave Arizona the lead after hitting a triple to start the game, scoring when a throw from Oneil Cruz went past Ke’Bryan Hayes at third base.
Marte then hit a fastball from Luis Ortiz 420 feet over the Clemente Wall in right field.
Pederson followed with a home run to right field, going 430 feet and becoming the 50th player to hit a ball into the Allegheny River since PNC Park opened in 2001.
Bell, who was traded from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, hit a home run to right-center on the first pitch he saw as a Diamondback.
The first four batters for Arizona gathered 15 total bases, which is the most to start a game in major league history.
“I think it starts with Corbin,” Bell said. “Kind of takes the pressure off. Obviously, Marte’s been lights-out all year. Same with Joc. Setting the standard there, getting a run across the board and then it’s free money from that point on, house money. Take your cuts and not have to worry too much.”
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. added a single and scored on a force out from Alek Thomas to finish the scoring.
Arizona came close to the major league record of four consecutive home runs. The St. Louis Cardinals last hit four in a row on July 2, 2022, against Philadelphia, with Nolan Arenado, Nolan Gorman, Juan Yepez, and Dylan Carlson each hitting a home run in the first inning.
Arizona won 9-8, marking their fourth straight win and eighth in nine games. The Diamondbacks are tied with San Diego for the second wild card spot in the National League.
The Pirates took a 7-6 lead in the sixth inning. Bell tied the game with another home run in the seventh—this time from the right side after hitting left-handed in the first inning. Geraldo Perdomo hit a go-ahead double in the eighth, and Marte hit his second home run of the game in the ninth.
Leave a Reply