PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he wanted to see how his club would set the tone in the first five innings on Monday against the Detroit Tigers after starting the season 0-3.
In a 9-6 win on Opening Day at Chase Field, the Diamondbacks did just about everything that could have been asked of them through those five frames.
Starting pitcher Michael Soroka struck out 10 batters in five shutout innings, setting a franchise record for punch outs in a Diamondbacks debut.
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Corbin Carroll hit an RBI triple in the first inning and then a three-run home run in the second to spoil Justin Verlander’s re-debut with the Tigers.
The Diamondbacks rallied for three more runs in the fifth, and the sold-out crowd at Chase Field chanted, “Safe! Safe! Safe!” as the D-backs won a challenge to score the third run of the frame on a hustle play from Jordan Lawlar.
“It felt really good, especially after a tough L.A. series just to come out and put them on early. It was what we needed,” Carroll said.
It was a great response to getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers to start the year, but the party-like atmosphere at Chase Field dissolved suddenly like the police came by responding to a noise complaint.
The Tigers scored six runs in the seventh inning, each charged to D-backs reliever Joe Ross but not helped by Ryan Thompson coming in, balking twice, allowing a double and walking two hitters. A second pitching change was necessary, as boos rained down. It became a moment where not having a lefty in the bullpen appeared to be a hindrance against a Detroit lineup with three of the top four batters hitting from that side.
Juan Morillo, however, quelled the rally by drawing a ground out, ending the frame with Arizona arms having delivered 44 pitches. It was a nice moment for Morillo to bounce back after allowing the game-winning home run on Saturday.
The big inning plagued Arizona in Los Angeles, as the Dodgers scored four runs in three separate frames while the D-backs’ offense halted after four innings each night.
That’s why Ildemaro Vargas’ home run in the seventh was such a critical moment to preserving the win, as it got the fans back into a buzz and allowed the dugout to exhale.
“We did a really good job of not getting complacent, and just keep attacking,” Carroll said. “Huge hustle play by Lawlar, obviously the homer by Vargy. It was great to watch.”
Paul Sewald — after entering the game to “Jump Around” — recorded his first save for Arizona since the summer of 2024, and the D-backs got the first win of the season over with.
The Diamondbacks’ offense finished the game with 11 hits, two doubles, a triple, two home runs, a stolen base and six walks. Carroll, Gabriel Moreno, Vargas and Lawlar each recorded multiple hits.
Lovullo called it a breakout performance for Carroll, who was able to show off the power swing for the difficult half of a cycle. Seven weeks after hand surgery, that was an encouraging sight.
And while that seventh inning became nightmarish for a team that blew the most saves in the National League last year, being able to jump out to a lead, survive the counter punch and finish strong were all positives from the most complete performance of the year thus far.
“We just got to eliminate that one bad inning,” Lovullo said, “It’s happened a couple of times to us in L.A., and we’re going to figure that out. And when we do, we’re going to get on some really nice runs.”
“For us as a team to get the first win and at home, in front of the home opener, it’s fun,” Soroka said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what this team can do from here on out.”
“We’ve got to eliminate that one bad inning.” – Torey Lovullo on tonight’s win. pic.twitter.com/iBox4obxoq
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) March 31, 2026
Diamondbacks’ next game
The series continues on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. MST with Brandon Pfaadt pitching for Arizona. Right-hander Casey Mize gets the ball for Detroit.
Catch the game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
Follow @alexjweiner
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