Diamondbacks break through in clutch to salvage Eduardo Rodriguez gem vs. Cardinals

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.

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