- Three home runs in first three at-bats off Braves starter Grant Holmes
- 443-foot moonshot marks longest Diamondbacks HR this season
- Third career three-homer game since 2020 Reds performance
- Now tied for NL lead with 9 HRs in last 30 games
- D-backs improve playoff positioning with 6-4 rivalry win
In a display of raw power that electrified Chase Field, Eugenio Suárez etched his name deeper into baseball lore Saturday night. The Venezuelan infielder became just the 34th player in MLB history to record multiple three-homer games, launching missiles to all fields against a bewildered Atlanta pitching staff. His second-inning opener – a 112mph laser into the left field bleachers – set the tone for what would become a career-defining performance.
Suárez’s historic night carried significant strategic implications for both teams. The Diamondbacks, clinging to wild card hopes in the loaded NL West, gained critical momentum through his 4 RBI output. Meanwhile, Braves manager Brian Snitker faced mounting bullpen challenges after rookie starter Grant Holmes surrendered a career-worst 6 ER. Advanced metrics revealed Suárez capitalized on 89% middle-middle fastballs, a pattern Atlanta’s pitching staff failed to adjust.
Three unique insights define this milestone moment:
1. At 33 years 214 days, Suárez becomes the oldest third baseman with a 3-HR game since Adrian Beltre in 2017
2. His 443-foot sixth-inning blast exceeded the MLB average home run distance by 47 feet
3. Arizona improved to 11-3 when Suárez homers, underscoring his clutch performance value
A regional case study reveals how Suárez’s power surge aligns with Arizona’s desert elevation advantage. Since May 1, Chase Field (1,059ft elevation) has yielded 22% more HRs than Truist Park (1,050ft), with late-summer humidity levels creating ideal launch conditions. This geographic edge helps explain Suárez’s .570 slugging percentage at home versus .483 on the road.