The MLB All-Star break is quickly approaching (July 12th-16th).  And right around that time, you want to start to see signs that your team is ready to compete for a deep run in the playoffs.  This was not the case for the Arizona Diamondbacks after they had dropped back-to-back series against the Phillies and the Twins.  Both of whom you expect to see in the playoffs come this October. 

Despite those series losses, the Diamondbacks managed to turn things around, starting in their home series against the Oakland Athletics.  The series didn't start out well, with Arizona dropping the first game, 9-4.  The A's are currently almost 25 games under .500 and have all but packed up the trucks to head to Las Vegas.  This was not a team that you would expect a contender to lose to.  But, the Diamondbacks got back on track and took the final two games of the series (3-0, 5-1). 

But the real test would come on their next road trip where they were to take on their NL West rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the San Diego Padres.   
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​Even without Mookie Betts in the lineup for the Dodgers, this was still a very formidable offense to go up against. Ryne Nelson pitched a strong 5.0 innings, only giving up one earned run, and striking out three.  Questions came up after the game as to why Nelson was pulled after just five innings, considering he only threw 78 pitches.  The score at the time was tied at two.  
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​The Diamondbacks would lose the game by the score of 6-5, even though the Dodgers came to the plate in the bottom of the 9th, down 5-4.  But the bullpen would falter as Paul Sewald would allow a double to Freeman, scoring Smith and tying the game at 5-5.  And then Teoscar Hernandez would hit an RBI single, scoring Freeman, and walking off with the win, 6-5.  
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​On a positive note, Christian Walker continued his dominance of Los Angeles pitching, with a home run in the 4th inning. Joc Pederson also went deep for the Diamondbacks. 
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​In the second game of the three-game series, the Diamondbacks offense would put up double-digits.  Led by Christian Walker and his 16th and 17th career home runs at Dodger Stadium.  Walker would hit the first one in the 4th inning, giving the Diamondbacks their first lead, 5-4.  He would then hit his second home run of the evening after the game was pretty much in the bag in the top of the 9th.  With two on, he would send a 398 foot shot to left center, and extended the Diamondbacks lead to 12-4, which would end up being the final score. 
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​Pitching wise, Ben Jarvis would get the win as the bullpen would hold the Dodgers scoreless for the final six innings.  
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​In the final game of the three-game series, it was all about "that guy" again.  Christian Walker would hit his first home run in the top of the 1st inning, which was the second homer of a back-to-back with Joc Pederson.  He would then hit his second shot of the game his next at bat with Pederson on, giving the Diamondbacks an early 4-0 lead in the third inning.

Arizona would go on to win the game by the final score of 9-4.  Fireballer Justin Martinez would pick up his third win of the season after coming in for Zac Gallen in the fifth inning.  The Diamondbacks would win the series in Los Angeles, 2-1.

And now it was on to San Diego to take on the San Diego Padres.  And in true fashion, the Diamondbacks would drop the first game of the series for their third straight series. This game had a little more fireworks than the Padres probably wanted. 

With a 7-2 lead heading into the top of the 9th inning, the Diamondbacks would finally wake up and put up six runs in the inning to give Arizona a 8-7 lead heading to the bottom frame. The offense was highlighted by Alek Thomas' grand slam, and Grichuk's two-run shot. 

But the celebrating was short-lived.  In the bottom of the 9th, Paul Sewald would again struggle to hold the lead.  Profar would tie the game with a 384 foot shot to right center.  And then Manny Machado would walk it off with a two-run shot (396 feet) to left center.  The final score would be 10-8. 

But wait.....there's more! If some drama is good, then more drama is better.  In the second game of the three-game series, the two teams would take it to extra innings, tied at 4. 

In the top of the 10th inning, Christian Walker would come up big again for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  This time with a bases-loaded, two-run single, scoring both Carroll and Perdomo, and moving Grichuk to second.  Jake McCarthy would then knock in Grichuk on a fielders choice groundout to the shortstop. 

In the bottom of the frame,  the Padres would not go quietly.  Solano would double to right, scoring Cronenworth, and moving Manny Machado to third.  With the bases loaded later in the inning, and the score still at 7-5, Humberto Castallanos would get the final two outs out of the bullpen, recording the save and securing the win for Arizona.  

In the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon, there would be no late-game drama needed.  But there were plenty of fireworks from the Arizona Diamondbacks.  More specifically, from Eugenio Suarez.  

With the score locked at 1-1 heading into the 7th inning, Suarez would break the tie with a 2-run shot to left field, scoring Perdomo and giving the Diamondbacks a 3-1 lead.  Suarez would come up again in the top of the 9th inning and the bases loaded.  He would hit a bases-clearing double to center, extending the Diamondbacks lead to 7-1.  Arizona would add two more runs in the inning, and would go on to win the game by the final score of 9-1.  The win would secure their third straight series win and ending their road swing on a high note.  Ryne Nelson would record the win for Arizona after going 6.2 innings, allowing just one run on three hits, and striking out five. 

The Diamondbacks return home for a tough four-game series starting today, against the Atlanta Braves, followed by a three-game series against the Toronto Bluejays before the break.