D-backs' celebration soured by M's rally

PHOENIX -- The 2001 World Series banner hangs in the rafters at Chase Field far above the wall in left-center field. There are five division championship banners and a Wild Card one that are crowded around one another, but the World Series banner sits separate.

It's a reminder of what this franchise once accomplished and where it hopes to go again in the future.

• Box score

"We know what that standard is, and we're chasing it every single day," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "I'm not going to lie to you, I look at that flag that's hanging up there probably 75 to 100 times a game."

On Saturday night, the D-backs paid tribute to the 2001 World Series team with former players Luis Gonzalez and Mark Grace and manager Bob Brenly throwing out the first pitch. It was a feel-good night right up until Kyle Seager hit his second three-run homer of the game to lead the Mariners to an 8-5 win.

In addition to appearances from Gonzalez, Grace and Brenly, members of that 2001 team like left-hander Randy Johnson, third baseman Matt Williams, second baseman Jay Bell, center fielder Steve Finley and shortstop Tony Womack sent in videos reminiscing about Arizona's dramatic Game 7 win over the Yankees.

The D-backs also wore the throwback sleeveless jerseys they wore at home during the World Series.

"It was special," D-backs catcher Carson Kelly said. "And being able to wear those jerseys, it's really cool. Some of the [former players] are still [in town] and they come and hang out and talk. And you know that's special -- that it shows you know what the D-backs are about. And we're here working our butts off to be able to get to do that again."

The D-backs also wore the throwback sleeveless jerseys they wore at home during the World Series.

"It was special," D-backs catcher Carson Kelly said. "And being able to wear those jerseys, it's really cool. Some of the [former players] are still [in town] and they come and hang out and talk. And you know that's special -- that it shows you know what the D-backs are about. And we're here working our butts off to be able to get to do that again."

With the loss, the D-backs fell to 45-92 with 25 games remaining, making it likely that they will be just the second D-backs team to lose 100-plus games, but unlikely that they will match the 2004 team's 111 losses.

On Saturday, the D-backs watched the Mariners build a 3-0 lead just three batters into the game, but Arizona managed to score four of its own in the first and the game was tied heading into the sixth.

That's when Kyle Seager, who hit a three-run homer in the first, smacked another three-run shot, this one off reliever Caleb Smith to put the Mariners back on top.

"Definitely frustrating, you know, when you go down early, rally back to tie," Kelly said. "You know, it's just baseball. It's never fun [to lose]."

Lovullo, who caught Brenly's first pitch, has developed relationships with a number of the 2001 D-backs players during his five years managing, and he always welcomes their presence around the team.

"The Arizona Diamondbacks have a tremendous group of former great players that are still tied into this community," Lovullo said. "It's always great to see them. You can see that it was a special moment that they created for this community. And it's what I get up for every single day, to have something like that happen. So it's always a reminder to us in the dugout and the present team and the present group that that's our goal. That's where I want to be at the end of the day, and I know the other rest of the guys do as well."