Diamondbacks beat Royals 5-3 in 11 innings as Corbin Burnes makes return after Tommy John surgery
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Corbin Burnes made his return after a 15-month recovery from Tommy John surgery, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a go-ahead RBI triple, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 in 11 innings on Tuesday night.
Burnes threw three innings and 57 pitches in his first start since June 2025. He struck out two and allowed two hits and two walks.
Arizona (78-68) has won five of its last six games to hold onto the third Wild Card spot.
In the 11th, Ryan Waldschmidt advanced Ildemaro Vargas to third on a leadoff sacrifice bunt, and Gurriel drove in Vargas after Matthew Lugo missed the catch in right-center field. The play was scored a triple.
Ketel Marte added an insurance run in the 11th with a sacrifice fly, and Ryan Walston (1-0) earned his first career win and save in two innings of work.
The game was scoreless until the eighth, when Perdomo hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the game's first run. Tim Tawa added a solo homer in the ninth, his 10th.
John Rave answered for the Royals with a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth, and both teams scored one run in the 10th.
Michael Wacha struck out four in six innings and allowed three hits and four walks, picking up his fourth straight quality start for the Royals. Anthony Gose (1-1) took the loss.
Up next
Daniel Lynch IV (4-5, 3.51 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals in the series finale Wednesday against RHP Merrill Kelly (9-13, 5.06).
___
See AP's full MLB coverage here
MLB Wild Card Roundup: Ben Rice's Slam, Michael King's No-Hit Bid Highlight Game 1s
2026 MLB Wild Card Series Odds: What To Know About Each Matchup
MLB Playoffs: The Stars Who'll Define The 2026 Postseason
MLB Postseason Bracket, Schedule For Wild Card Round And World Series
ABS Challenge Decides MLB Playoff Game For First Time, And Phillies Stay Alive
After Carving Up Red Sox, Yankees Ace Cam Schlittler Eyes Becoming 'Legend'
Yankees' Aaron Judge Takes Swings in Double-A Park, Eyes Postseason Return
MLB Playoffs: 2026 Wild-Card Predictions, X-Factors And Why Each Team Can Win
Alec Bohm’s 10th-Inning Homer Saves Phillies’ Season In Thrilling Win Over Braves
