National Baseball League

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Arizona Diamondbacks are moving on. That’s right, a sweep of the Miami Marlins in the Wild Card, 9-7 today, and they advance to the Division Series. And it really came down to one guy: Brian Rekstad. This guy hits .750 in the series, drives in seven runs, scores three, adds a home run, and just puts the team on his back. If you’re talking about playoff impact, this is exactly what you want from your DH.
Now, this was not some blowout. Miami put up seven runs, they had their chances, led early in parts, but Arizona’s timely hitting and that clutch approach made the difference. Rekstad’s big two-out RBI homer in the seventh inning off L. Arriaga? That’s the swing that flips the game. Arizona answered every time Miami threatened—when the Marlins scored two in the sixth, Arizona responded with seven in the bottom of the seventh. That’s playoff baseball: push back every time.
On the mound, C. Worthen held his own with seven innings, five earned, two homers allowed—but he survived, kept the team in it, and allowed his lineup to do the work.
Bottom line: the Diamondbacks are clicking, they’re peaking at the right time, and now they move on to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the Division Series. Miami? They leave the field with their heads down, knowing they didn’t have enough to match the timing and poise of Arizona.
Player of the game? No question—Brian Rekstad. That’s the guy who makes this series sweep feel like a statement. Arizona is rolling, and if Rekstad keeps swinging like this, Milwaukee better be ready.

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