Diamondbacks break through in clutch to salvage Eduardo Rodriguez gem vs. Cardinals
Nolan Arenado's go-ahead double in the ninth inning was a key moment for the Diamondbacks in their win over the Cardinals.
Watch: Ain't No Fang: Arizona Diamondbacks are not afraid of the Los Angeles Dodgers | 35 mins
It took the Arizona Diamondbacks eight innings to kick their inadequacies with runners in scoring position on Tuesday at Busch Stadium, but they got there eventually with a series of clutch at-bats in the ninth inning to beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-3.
Eduardo Rodriguez kept the D-backs in this game with no run support, blanking the Cardinals for 6.2 innings.
Nolan Arenado’s go-ahead double in the ninth inning ended Arizona’s 0-for-9 hitless run with runners in scoring position and broke a scoreless tie. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. added on with a two-run single, as the D-backs brought nine batters to the plate and scored four runs in the ninth inning.
Paul Sewald did not exactly lock it down with three runs allowed, but Brandyn Garcia entered to put out the fire, snapping a three-game losing streak.
The D-backs moved back over .500 at 40-39.
The Diamondbacks entered Tuesday 21-for-151 with RISP in June for a .139 batting average, the worst in baseball. They went 0-for-8 on Monday to lose a winnable game, 3-2.
Arenado has been the prime suspect for these struggles, as he was 1-for-22 with RISP in June before stepping up to the plate in the ninth inning. Arenado battled with right-hander Matt Svanson, his teammate with St. Louis last season, before ripping a sinker to left field. The D-backs have been reliant on the top of their order and could use Arenado finding a rhythm again.
The difference in the ballgame became a passed ball that allowed pinch runner Jorge Barrosa to score.
The end of the game became tenuous, but a win is a win, and the D-backs needed to stop the bleeding from a rough weekend.
Eduardo Rodriguez continues to provide for Diamondbacks
Rodriguez shut down St. Louis with three hits allowed, as the Cardinals did not record a knock until the fourth inning.
The most suspect moment of his day was in the sixth inning, when center fielder Tommy Troy ran into shortstop Geraldo Perdomo on a pop-up, and Perdomo threw base runner Ivan Herrera out at home plate in the chaos.
Geraldo Perdomo vio una oportunidad para el doble play, Y NO LA DESPERDICIÓ pic.twitter.com/YWe7bkLXV9
— MLB Español (@mlbespanol) June 24, 2026
Rodriguez has let one run score over his past two starts, dropping his ERA to 2.27, providing stability every five days to a rotation that has been thrust into a blender over the weekend with injuries to Ryne Nelson and Michael Soroka.
That is the sixth best ERA in baseball and, amazingly, the fifth best in the National League. He continued to make his case to be an All-Star for the first time in his career this season. Rodriguez and Corbin Carroll look like the best bets to represent the Diamondbacks in Philadelphia.
E-Rod continues to deliver.
6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K pic.twitter.com/7UzcNB0DTz
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 24, 2026
Rodriguez has thrown nine quality starts this season, nearly matching his total from 2024 and 2025 combined (10).
Arizona is 12-4 when he starts.
Related
Diamondbacks need to jumpstart offense to salvage series win vs. Rockies
Geraldo Perdomo out of Diamondbacks’ lineup Tuesday with knee issue
Diamondbacks avoid post-Dodgers letdown, clobber Rockies in Soroka’s return
Geraldo Perdomo removed from Diamondbacks-Rockies game with knee soreness
Jake McCarthy ‘getting back to what makes me good’ in resurgent season for Rockies
Diamondbacks injury return tracker: Progress reports on Justin Martinez, Corbin Burnes
Comments
16 Comments
Lovullo FINALLY making a move when our lives are on the line that makes sense. Since when does Lovullo pull the closer BEFORE they blow the game?
Sorry Torey needs to go ASAP!! E-Rod is pitching a gem of a game 3 hitter and has 2 outs in the 7th and gets yanked for that POS Juan who almost gave up a run, WTF If im E-Rod next i tell Torey go sit your A$$ back down i'm not coming out.
Congrats to the Dbacks on the win! You guys moved up from being #8 in the wild card playoff standings to #7!
A big shout to E-Rod for pitching a whale of a game...now that is a quality start. I agree with Gonzo...E-Rod 'won' the game by not allowing a run which kept the Dbacks in the game.
Unlike Kelly who gave up 3 earned runs for a game ERA of 4.50 which made the Arizona Sports talking heads especially during the 10 AM - 2 PM time frame thinking that Kelly's performance was worthy of a Cy Young. Kelly's performance for 2026 is below average and it sucks! Kelly lost the game by giving up three runs!
When the teams are not scoring runs, the pitchers need to keep the team in the game by not giving up runs.
A shout out to Garcia who threw some heaters! Against good hitting teams, I think that Garcia should close because Sewald who has been good...can't throw the heat.