Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker got the better of Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto in Monday night’s 5-4 loss at Chase Field.
Walker started things off with a mammoth two-run home run to open the scoring in the bottom of the third inning, giving Arizona a 2-0 lead.
Christian Walker almost hit the roof with this blast.
pic.twitter.com/AF4MzDTLBd
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 14, 2022
The big fly is Walker’s 16th on the year, making him top-five in the National League. It also brings him to 30 RBIs on the season.
Walker’s blast had an exit velocity of 111 mph and traveled 446 feet over the left field foul pole. It was even challenged by Reds manager David Bell — unsuccessfully, of course.
The D-backs first baseman wasn’t done putting his fingerprints on the ballgame, however, as Walker flashed the leather on the defensive side of the diamond as well.
With the Reds up 5-4, one out, runners on first and second and Votto at the plate, the left-handed hitter smoked a ball off Diamondbacks right-handed reliever J.B. Wendelken.
But the quick reactions of Walker snagged the line drive out of the air and then easily lofted the ball to second base to turn the inning-ending double play.
Smooth walkin’ for a double play #Dbacks pic.twitter.com/BFq6dO7P7e
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) June 14, 2022
Walker finished the night 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs, two walks and a run scored, while Votto was 0-for-3 with a walk.