Diamondbacks 5, Texas 2: Nelson is Nails
Ryne looked sharp in his final spring training start, pitching 4 scoreless innings
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 13: Ryne Nelson #19 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of the game at Target Field on September 13, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images It was another unseasonably warm day up in the valley, perfect (not) for the Diamondbacks to host the Texas Rangers at Salt River Fields in the penultimate spring training game of 2026. The starting lineup was comprised of pretty much what I think we can expect to see breaking camp with the team in a few days: it was mainly the usual suspects, aside from Brian McCann catching and Tim Tawa playing third base, with Nolan Arenado hitting in the DH spot and Corbin Carroll getting the day off.
Ryne Nelson took the mound against former Rockie Austin Gomber in his last tuneup before the regular season gets underway. It went quite well, all things considered. Nelson pitched five shutout innings, striking out seven, walking none, and surrendering only four hits along the way.
He threw 76 pitches overall, 45 of them for strikes, as he brought his spring ERA down to a nice, eminently respectable 3. 18. Taylor Clarke and Paul Sewald followed with a scoreless inning apiece, and the only pitching blemish came from Isaiah Campbell, who gave up two runs in the top of the eighth on two hits and two walks.
Lefty farmhand Ryan Giestling pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his second save of the spring. Meanwhile, the offense staked Ryno an early lead in the bottom of the third, thanks to a one-out Jordan Lawlar single, a Ketel Marte double, and an Alek Thomas three-run homer over the fence in right center field. Lawlar, I’m pleased to say, really does seem to have figured out something with the bat, though of course it’s spring training so we probably shouldn’t read too much into that.