Stay united: Diamondbacks band together for series win over Reds to cap drama-filled week

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks were nine outs away from limping to the end of a week dragged down by the absence of Ketel Marte, another injury to Michael Soroka and the weight of chasing the two hottest teams in baseball.

Then, Tim Tawa singled, and Jordan Lawlar did the same. James McCann walked, and eventually an offense that had been quiet in Sunday’s rubber match against the Cincinnati Reds ignited.

Ildemaro Vargas ripped the go-ahead, two-run triple into right-center field, pumping up the crowd as he strolled into third base. The Diamondbacks scored four runs in the seventh inning and secured a 5-3 win to claim a series they felt needed to be had.

The Diamondbacks, for all the adversity and many faults of this team, have been resilient. That late push on Sunday showed more evidence of that.

“I’d say it’s about the team’s unity right now,” Vargas said via Spanish interpreter. “We know that we’re missing an important element to our team. We know that we’re missing Ketel Marte, and that’s important. I pray to God that everything works out well. The clubhouse doors are always open. It’s just to remain positive.”

“We’re trying to go out there and play our brand of baseball and keep the game the game,” Tawa said. “Go out there and do what we know how to do.”

The Diamondbacks were at risk of letting a second straight game get away early. After the Diamondbacks’ 11-5 loss on Saturday, starter Mitch Bratt lasted only three innings. Bratt needed 69 pitches to record nine outs, and the D-backs trailed 3-0.

Bratt’s start was not only disappointing on its own, but it added to the recent trend of lackluster starting pitching from this rotation. The issues are now exacerbated by another Soroka injury, which was revealed right before Sunday’s game started.

The bullpen played a heroic role, giving the offense a chance to snatch the lead. Six relievers delivered a combined six shutout innings, and manager Torey Lovullo said Gerardo Carrillo changed the direction of the ballgame.

Carrillo, who flew in on Sunday morning to replace Soroka on the roster, threw 1.2 scoreless frames directly after Bratt to cool down the Reds.

In the ninth inning, Lovullo showed his urgency by removing Brandyn Garcia with two outs and one runner aboard for Kevin Ginkel. Lovullo wanted the right-on-right matchup against Dane Myers, and after a Vargas error, Ginkel stranded two runners for the save.

Arizona has won three of four games with two tight, gritty wins.

“I ask these players for balance,” Lovullo said. “I’m not gonna lie, it was rough. I stood before the cameras and told you how rough it was, and these players were basically echoing some of that frustration and distraction as well. But when they say they’re coming out the other end and then back it up with their play, it tells me a really good story.

“This is a game of confusion and madness that sprinkled in are good moments. We are dealing with crisis all of the time. That’s what good teams do.”

NL Wild Card check-in

Both the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres — the two teams directly ahead of Arizona — swept their respective series this weekend, as did the Miami Marlins, who are right behind the D-backs.

While the American League may let a sub-.500 team into the postseason (the AL West consists of five losing records), the NL looks more like 2024 than 2025. Last year, the Reds made the playoffs with 83 wins. In 2024, the D-backs won 89 games and painfully did not clinch due to a late-season collapse.

Here is the NL Wild Card picture after Sunday’s game:

1. Cubs 75-56 (+4 games up)
2. Phillies 73-58 (+2)
3. Padres 71-60 (-)
4. Diamondbacks 69-62 (2)

The Phillies have won nine straight games, and the Padres have the second-best record in MLB this month (15-6), only trailing the Phillies.

There is time to gain (or lose) ground with over a month of action left.

But the trend is clear: The Diamondbacks’ record will probably have to excellent down the stretch to crack the bracket, despite the factors working against them to earn a spot. When Marte plays again will be a question until he is activated, and there are problems to solve with this banged-up rotation before Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen return.

What helps is that the Diamondbacks play the Phillies and Padres again, two series that could determine the outcome of this season.

First, the D-backs host the Cubs on Monday.

Corbin Carroll keeps rolling

Carroll hit a double, triple and sacrifice fly during Sunday’s game. His 16 triples are more than 13 MLB teams, and the All-Star has broken free of his extended midseason slump.

Carroll is batting .381 over his last 12 games with two home runs, three triples and five doubles.

“It’s just amazing what this player can do,” Lovullo said.

Gerardo Carrillo’s travel schedule

Carrillo said he flew at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning, and Lovullo mentioned Carrillo walked into the building at around 10:30 a.m.

The Diamondbacks optioned Carrillo on Monday despite his 0.66 ERA in eight MLB appearances at the time due to a roster crunch. He did not let that impact his performance on Sunday by striking out the side in the fourth inning and inducing a double play in the fifth.

“Just always try to be ready,” Carrillo said via Spanish interpreter. “I can’t control the roster moves that are being made, but whenever my time comes, be ready for whatever situation presents itself.”

Return of Geno

What has been obvious this weekend is the imprint Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez made with Arizona’s fans and players.

Suarez received an ovation both when he took his first plate appearance on Friday and when the D-backs showed a tribute video between innings.

He caught up with Diamondbacks players before games throughout the weekend and was called over during a Hispanic Heritage celebration before Saturday’s game to hold up the Venezuelan flag next to Eduardo Rodriguez.

“Being brought over here, we asked a lot of him. He didn’t let us down,” manager Torey Lovullo said pregame. “He’s a connector of human beings and I just know how much he enjoyed his time here. I could probably say the same thing about the Seattle Mariners and the Cincinnati Reds. He just endears himself to the community, endears himself to his teammates and then he goes out there and plays like a baller.”

Suarez played for the Diamondbacks for fewer than than two full seasons, but with his four-home run game, All-Star appearance and relentless optimism, he had a memorable tenure.

Sunday attendance

28,433

Cubs coming to town: Probable starters

Monday: RHP Merrill Kelly (8-11, 5.37) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (6-11, 4.58)

Tuesday: RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-1, 3.39) vs. RHP Clay Holmes (5-6, 2.49)

Wednesday: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (13-4, 2.61) vs. LHP Matthew Boyd (8-2, 4.15)

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