CHICAGO — The Arizona Diamondbacks delayed clinching an NL wild card berth, losing to the White Sox 3-1 on Thursday as Andrew Vaughn and Yoán Moncada homered for Chicago.
Arizona (84-75) is in position for the second NL wild card and its first postseason appearance since 2017. The Diamondbacks entered two games ahead of the Chicago Cubs and Miami, who were tied for the third and final spot. Arizona would have clinched Thursday with both a win and a Cubs loss at Atlanta.
Each team had three hits, and Arizona went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.
Tanner Banks (1-4), the second of five Chicago pitchers, threw a scoreless fifth. Bryan Shaw got three straight outs for his fourth save in five chances.
Chicago (61-98) is trying to avoid its first 100-loss season since 2018.
Vaughn hit a two-run homer in the second off Bryce Jarvis (2-1). Ketel Marte had a sacrifice fly in the third and Moncada homered in the fourth.
Rookie Corbin Carroll had two of Arizona's hits.
PLAYOFF PUSH
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said the team will make rotation adjustments if it is able to secure a wild card spot but is only focused on clinching playoff berth until that happens.
“I don't care where we land, where we go or who we wind up playing against," Lovullo said. "Getting to the big dance is the most important thing and then we just play our game. We have very talented players and I think we match up with anybody.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: A day after he was scratched because of right shoulder discomfort, OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was 1 for 4.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Zac Gallen (17-8, 3.49 ERA) is scheduled Friday's series opener against Houston RHP J.P. France (11-6, 3.83).
White Sox: RHP Dylan Cease (7-8, 4.66) is slated to oppose San Diego RHP Nick Martinez (5-4, 3.59) on Friday.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made the State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers also play at the Footprint. Phoenix has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Cactus Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the Waste Management Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall; and Cactus League Spring Training.
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