Eugenio Suarez, D-backs hope to follow big night with win over Braves

Even Eugenio Suarez was shocked.

"I never thought that was going to happen," Suarez said after his four-homer outburst Saturday. "But today was a perfect day."

Now, what will he do for an encore when his Arizona Diamondbacks close their three-game series with the Atlanta Braves in Phoenix on Sunday?

Get a win, he must be hoping.

Suarez became the 19th player in major league history to hit four homers in a game, but Arizona was unable to capitalize as it lost its fourth straight game, this one in 10 innings by an 8-7 score.

He became the first member of the Diamondbacks to hit four homers since J.D. Martinez accomplished the feat in 2017,

Suarez's fourth homer -- his third solo shot -- tied the game in the ninth, but Atlanta used a wild pitch and a strong defensive stop by third baseman Austin Riley in the 10th to win. The Braves will go for a series sweep when Spencer Schwellenbach (1-1, 2.56 ERA) will oppose fellow right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (4-1, 2.73) on Sunday.

"The game is like this," Suarez said. "You never know what is going to happen. Personally, I feel good. But it's mixed feelings because we didn't win the game."

Suarez's third home run in the sixth gave the Diamondbacks a 6-2 lead, but Eli White had two-run homer in the seventh and Michael Harris II hit a two-out, two-run double to cap a three-run eighth for a 7-6 lead.

White has two homers and seven RBIs in his past three games, and the Braves have won three in a row and seven of eight. Marcell Ozuna had two hits, including and a homer, Sean Murphy also went deep and Ozzie Albies had two hits and scored twice on Saturday.

White hit a game-winning three-run homer on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, and manager Brian Snitker decided to ride with him.

"Maybe he's getting hot," Snitker said. "We'll see. Just what he can do with his legs, and the defense, and his at-bats really have been good all year."

Schwellenbach has made four quality starts in five appearances, his only clunker coming when Toronto touched him for six runs and two homers in 4 2/3 innings of a 6-3 loss on April 15.

Otherwise, he has been outstanding -- six scoreless innings in a no-decision in the season opener at San Diego and eight scoreless frames in a 10-0 victory over Miami in his second start. He has walked five in 31 2/3 innings.

Schwellenbach, a rookie last season, will make his first appearance against the Diamondbacks.

Pfaadt has won his past four starts and has been the Diamondbacks' most consistent pitcher. He has three quality starts and fell one-third of an inning short of a fourth in his five season starts.

Opponents have begun stacking their lineup with left-handers to attack Pfaadt, with some success. Lefties are hitting .256 against him and have all five of the homers he has allowed. Righties are hitting .167.

"That's been a key all year," Pfaadt said. "Teams are throwing all their lefties against our righties, and we are figuring ways to become better against those lefties."

Pfaadt is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two career starts against Atlanta. Ozuna is 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs against him.

--Field Level Media