D-Backs land 1st playoff berth since 2017, eliminate Reds

The Arizona Diamondbacks are heading to the postseason for the first time since 2017, clinching a playoff berth by virtue of the Cincinnati Reds' 15-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Arizona is the final NL team to clinch a postseason berth in 2023. The Snakes will travel to either Philadelphia or Milwaukee for the wild-card series.

The Diamondbacks return to the playoffs just two seasons after losing 110 games thanks to a budding roster featuring NL Rookie of the Year front-runner Corbin Carroll and ace right-hander Zac Gallen.

"We lost 110 games two years ago and we just punched a ticket to the postseason," manager Torey Lovullo said. "We are one of the top teams in the National League and that didn't happen by luck. It happened because we were a trustworthy group and ready to compete every single night."

This will be the seventh playoff appearance for the D-Backs, who began play in 1998, but only their second as a wild-card team.

"I think a lot of the emotion you see is that a lot of these guys were here the last few years, and we feel like we really earned this," first baseman Christian Walker said. "We pulled ourselves out of a (difficult) situation and turned ourselves into some winners.

“To be a part of this group, a contributor, a teammate, a leader, it is amazing.”

Arizona celebrated the clinch while trailing Houston 1-0 through eight innings of play at Chase Field.