Tucson comes back to even series

Nolan Arenado's two-run homer tied the game and four batters later Kurt Suzuki's two-out single completed an 8th-inning comeback off the Marietta bullpen to give Tucson a 6-5 win in Game 2 of their 1st round Wild Card series.

Arenado's shot came off Craig Stammen, who had just entered the game to protect a 5-3 lead after David Robertson issued a one-out walk to Asdrubal Cabrera. Stammen, who closed the door on a Game 1 victory for the Mighty Men, then recorded the second out before Nelson Cruz singled and Matt Olson walked. That's when Suzuki lined a single to shallow center, plating Cruz with the go-ahead run.

With two runners still in scoring position, the King Snakes sent up Marwin Gonzalez to hit for Andrew McCutcheon and Marietta countered with Dellin Betances, who ended the 8th by getting a line out to right.

Craig Kimbrel (S, 1) slammed the door on the Mighty Men in the top of the 9th, striking out the side. With the win, the 4th-seeded King Snakes evened their series with the 5th-seeded Mighty Men at 1-1 with Game 3 in Marietta.

Marietta had just plated an insurance run in the top of the 8th to push their lead to 5-3. Mike Zunino drew a one-out walk from reliever Reyes Moronta and Jesse Winker followed with a double to put two in scoring position. Adam Eaton grounded to 2B Jose Altuve who went home with the throw, nailing Zunino for the second out and keeping it a one-run lead. That's when Justin Turner delivered with a single between 3B and short, scoring Winker for a 5-3 edge.

The Mighty Men were looking for more insurance as Ben Zobrist stepped in. Moronta uncorked a wild pitch, putting Turner and Eaton at 2nd and 3rd, respectively, but Zobrist grounded to 1B to end the top of the 8th.

Marietta took an early 3-0 lead thanks to the bottom of their lineup and another long ball from Turner. Jed Lowrie led off the top of the 2nd with a single to left center and after Mitch Haniger struck out, Chris Taylor swatted a single to shallow right putting runners on the corners. Carrasco got another strikeout (Steve Pearce) for the 2nd out but Zunino, the No. 9 hitter, then doubled deep to center, driving home Lowrie and Taylor to put Marietta up 2-0. Carrasco let loose a wild pitch, allowing Zunino to take 3rd, before he induced Jesse Winker to pop out to 2nd.

In the 3rd, Turner took Carrasco deep to left center extending the Mighty Men lead to 3-0. An inning later, Marietta almost tacked on more. A single by Zunino and a walk to Winker was followed by another wild pitch by Carrasco, putting men on 2nd and 3rd with just one out. Carrasco was able to get out of it by striking out Eaton and surviving a deep out to center field by Turner.

Tucson answered in the bottom of the 4th. Jose Altuve led off with a double down the 3rd base line, took 3rd base after Ketel Marte grounded out to 1st, and scored on an Arenado single.

Marietta tacked on another run in the top of the 5th but again could have had more. Lowrie smacked a one-out single up the middle and Haniger reached on an infield single chopper to 3rd. Taylor poked a grounder deep into the hole at short, and was out at 1B but advancing Lowrie and Haniger to 2nd and 3rd, respectively. With two out, Pearce stepped in and tweaked a single to shallow center. Lowrie scored easily and Haniger got the sign to round 3rd and head home but the throw from Mallex Smith got him to end the inning.

The King Snakes continued to peck away at Marietta's 4-1 advantage. Suzuki lined a one-out double deep to right center and advanced when McCutcheon singled to shallow left. That brought up Smith, who grounded out to 2nd, forcing McCutcheon but Suzuki scampered home to cut the lead to 4-2. Marietta starter Wade Miley got Altuve to end the 5th inning by flying out center.

In the 6th, Marietta had another missed opportunity. Zunino led off by lining a double to left center. After Winker and Eaton flied out, Turner reached on an infield single, with Zunino advancing to 3rd. After 111 pitches, Carrasco's night was done. Tucson called on fireballing lefty Josh Hader to face Zobrist with runners on the corners. Hader came through, striking out the switch-hitter to keep it a 2-run game.

Tucson plated a run for the 3rd straight inning in the bottom of the 6th. Marte led off with a double deep to left center, took 3rd when Arenado grounded out to 2nd, and scored when Marcell Ozuna lined out to left, cutting the deficit to 4-3.

Stammen (0-1) took the loss after blowing the save, giving up 2 runs and 3 hits in just 1/3 inning. Moronta (1-0) was credited with the win, going 2 innings, yielding 1 run and 2 hits.

Marietta got a solid outing from Miley, who tossed 6 innings, yielding 5 hits and 3 runs with 2 strikeouts. Rich Rodriguez pitched a solid 7th inning, allowing just 1 hit and 2 strikeouts before Robertson started the 8th.

Carrasco, who went 8-0 after acquired by Tucson, gutted through 5 2/3 innings, working around 11 hits to give up 4 runs. He struck out 6 and walked 1. Arenado led the team with 3 RBI and Suzuki had a team-high 3 hits. Turner led the Marietta offense again with 4 hits and a solo HR. He and Zunino each had 2 RBI a piece.

Marietta rapped out 13 hits and scored 5 runs but left 11 on base compared with Tucson, which stranded only 5 runners, plating 6 runs on 9 hits.