ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Diamondbacks lose 4th straight, get swept by Cardinals

Jun 30, 2021, 3:31 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Riley Smith delivers a pitch in the first inning of a basebal...

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Riley Smith delivers a pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

(AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kwang Hyun Kim won for the first time in 11 starts, pitching five solid innings and helping himself with a two-run double as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-4 Wednesday for a three-game sweep.

Kim (2-5) had lost five straight decisions since his last win on April 23. He stranded six runners through his first four innings, giving up just an RBI single to Asdrúbal Cabrera.

“Today I tried to focus each batter and I think that was something that I got lucky and I got the win today,” Kim said through an interpreter.

Kim retired his last five batters. He struck out five, walked three and allowed three hits as the Cardinals won for the fourth time in their last five games.

“Thought his whole day was really positive, a pitch maker, did a great job,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said.

Alex Reyes earned his 20th save in as many opportunities. Arizona lost its fourth in a row.

Kim’s opposite-field double to left in the second scored Yadier Molina and Edmundo Sosa to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. The two RBIs were Kim’s first in the majors, and it was also the first extra-base hit for the 32-year-old lefty — he was 1 for 15 in the big leagues before that.

“I changed my bat to a lighter one and practiced with it,” Kim said. “I was lucky today.”

Paul Goldschmidt and Tyler O’Neill each doubled twice and singled, and Molina had a pair of hits. All three players drove in a run.

“I think we just talked about having good at-bats, you know, taking what the pitcher gives you,” Goldschmidt said. “You can still have good at bats, just not get the results. So, I think the focus has definitely been processed driven … if you do that then you know you’re going to eventually get those results like we did today.”

The Diamondbacks scored three in the eighth on just one hit. Two runs scored on a walk and a wild pitch by Ryan Helsley after he inherited a bases-loaded, one-out situation from Roel Ramirez, who was making his season debut. It is the 20th bases loaded walk allowed by Cardinals pitching this season.

Riley Smith (1-4) gave up four runs over three innings in his first start since May 14. The Diamondbacks were swept for the 13th time this season.

“To not keep my team in the ballgame, and to not make quality pitches at the time that I needed to, I’m very disappointed myself,” Smith said.

Arizona lost its fourth straight on the road since winning Saturday at San Diego to end a record 24-game road losing streak. The Diamondbacks are a major league-worst 22-60, including 10-36 away from home.

“Fundamentally, we just got to execute at a better level,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We do a lot right and again, when we do two or three things wrong, it costs us the ballgame and those stick out.”

UP NEXT

Diamondback: RHP Merrill Kelly (4-7, 4.73 ERA) starts a seven-game homestand with the first of four against the San Francisco Giants and RHP Johnny Cueto (6-3, 3.63 ERA) on Thursday night. Kelly pitched six scoreless innings in a win against the San Diego Padres in his last start on June 26.

St. Louis Cardinals Carlos Martinez watches the action from the bench in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) St. Louis Cardinals' Dylan Carlson (3) dives back to first as Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker applies the late tag on a pick-off attempt in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Tyler O'Neill (27) catches a fly ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Tim Locastro at the wall in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) Home plate umpire Vic Carapazza (19) calls Arizona Diamondbacks' Josh Rojas (10) safe at the plate after a collision with St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (4) in the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) A couple of fans sit amongst rows of empty seats in the sixth inning of a baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (46), left to right, second baseman Matt Carpenter (13) and left fielder Dylan Carlson get set for the play in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina (4) watches his RBI single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Riley Smith delivers a pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) A young fan holds on while his dad reaches for an autograph before a baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) A young fan holds his ball and pen through the fence in hopes of an autograph before a baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kwang Hyun Kim (33) Wipes his eyes in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) Arizona Diamondbacks' Nick Ahmed (13) turns to avoid a pitch from St. Louis Cardinals' Roel Ramirez in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) St. Louis Cardinals heads groundskeeper Bill Findley, right, and his crew wet down the infield prior to a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

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