Diamondbacks band together for series win over Reds to keep up in unrelenting Wild Card race

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks did not have much going for them during most of Sunday’s rubber match against the Cincinnati Reds, but a seventh-inning rally started by the bottom of the order made the difference in a 5-3 win.

Tim Tawa and Jordan Lawlar put the wheels in motion with singles to lead off against Reds starter Andrew Abbott, who had thrown six innings of one-run ball to this point.

Ildemaro Vargas supplied the big knock, a two-run, go-ahead triple that just kept rolling until it was misplayed by Reds center fielder Dane Myers. Vargas hyped up the crowd while strolling into third base in what felt like a release from a couple days of frustration.

After an 11-5 loss on Saturday, the Diamondbacks fell behind 3-0 in the finale, as starter Mitch Bratt lasted three innings. It was not only a poor performance filled with long at-bats and three walks, but it added to the recent trend of lousy starting pitching exacerbated by another Michael Soroka injury. The offense, meanwhile, continued to falter in run-scoring opportunities.

The bullpen was a hero of this game, as it kept the D-backs a rally away from flipping the score.

Gerardo Carrillo, who arrived just in time to be activated before first pitch, threw 1.2 scoreless innings. He replaced Soroka on the roster. Carrillo was one of six relievers the D-backs used to shut out the Reds after the third frame, as Kevin Ginkel earned the save.

The ninth inning became a drama, as Brandyn Garcia recorded the first two outs, Reds hitter Sal Stewart singled, Vargas committed an error and Ginkel finally ended the game with a strikeout.

It was the D-backs’ 39th comeback win this year, tied with the Chicago Cubs for the most in MLB.

By breaking out in the seventh inning, the Diamondbacks were able to keep up in what continues to look like a bloodbath National League Wild Card race. Both the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres — the two teams directly ahead of Arizona — swept their respective series this weekend.

NL Wild Card check-in

While the American League may let in a sub-.500 team into postseason baseball (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:

1. Cubs 75-56 (+4 games up)
2. Phillies 73-58 (+2)
3. Padres 71-60 (-)
4. Diamondbacks 69-62 (2.0)

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.

Now, there are 31 games left and plenty of time to gain (or lose) ground.

But the trend is clear, the Diamondbacks’ record will probably have to be very good down the stretch despite the factors working against them to earn a spot.

From Ketel Marte’s absence to the latest injury of Soroka to hamper an already-banged up rotation, this has been a trying stretch for the Diamondbacks who have hovered around a .500 record this month.

They beat the Dodgers in a thrilling series, lost to the lowly Rockies two out of three times, won a series at the NL East-leading Braves, lost two games at Fenway Park and scratched and clawed for a series win over a Reds team that is not going to make the playoffs and probably not a serious run at them.

Two of Arizona’s next three series are against the Cubs and Phillies, a potential slippery slope or launching pad.

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, as he gets closer to the elusive 20-home run, 20-triple, 20-double, 20-stolen base season not seen since 2007 (Curtis Granderson and Jimmy Rollins).

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 has spent time 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. “It was 30 (home runs) and 100 (RBIs). … 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. So I’m not surprised.”

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

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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