The Arizona Diamondbacks erased a late deficit with a four-run seventh inning, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Sunday to take the series.
The Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for four runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Sunday at Chase Field, taking the three-game series and keeping pace in the National League playoff race. Ildemaro Vargas delivered the decisive blow with a go-ahead, two-run triple, while the Reds’ late collapse wasted a strong start and sent them to a series loss before heading to San Francisco.
Reds’ Early Control Fades
The Cincinnati Reds (62-69) struck first and carried a lead into the late innings, but their offense stalled after the early going. The Reds managed just three runs on the day, a stark contrast to their 11-run outburst on Saturday when JJ Bleday hit for the cycle and Elly De La Cruz collected four hits. On Sunday, the Reds could not sustain that momentum against the Diamondbacks’ pitching, and their bullpen faltered in the decisive seventh.
Cincinnati’s injury-riddled roster continues to be a factor, with Spencer Steer, Michael Toglia, and Blake Dunn on the injured list, along with pitchers Brandon Williamson and Graham Ashcraft. Despite the setbacks, the Reds remain competitive but face an uphill climb in the wild-card picture.
Diamondbacks’ Seventh-Inning Surge
The Arizona Diamondbacks (69-62) trailed entering the seventh inning but erupted for four runs to seize control. Vargas’s two-run triple was the key hit, capping a rally that pushed Arizona past Cincinnati. The Diamondbacks won the series and improved to 69-62, solidifying their position in the NL West and the wild-card race.
Arizona’s pitching staff is also banged up, with Michael Soroka placed on the 10-day IL on Sunday due to right shoulder inflammation. The Diamondbacks are missing several key contributors, including Ketel Marte and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., but found enough offense in the late innings to secure the win.
Turning Point: Seventh-Inning Rally
The game changed in the bottom of the seventh when the Diamondbacks loaded the bases and Vargas stepped to the plate. His triple cleared the bases, giving Arizona a lead it would not relinquish. The Reds’ bullpen, which had held Arizona in check through six innings, could not contain the rally, and the Diamondbacks added an insurance run to seal the 5-3 victory.
Before that inning, the Reds appeared in control, but the sudden burst of offense from Arizona flipped the momentum and decided the series.
What It Means for Both Teams
For the Reds, the loss drops them to 62-69, fifth in the NL Central, and they now head to San Francisco to face the struggling Giants, who are 52-78. Cincinnati will look to rebound against a team that has lost three straight, but the Reds need a strong stretch run to stay relevant in the wild-card race.
The Diamondbacks, at 69-62, remain third in the NL West and in the thick of the playoff hunt. They host the Chicago Cubs (75-56) on Monday in a critical three-game series, with every game carrying extra weight as they battle for a postseason berth.
Key Takeaways
- Arizona’s four-run seventh inning, highlighted by Ildemaro Vargas’s two-run triple, erased a Reds lead and secured a 5-3 win.
- The Reds have now lost the series after Saturday’s 11-5 rout, and they will face the Giants next.
- The Diamondbacks placed Michael Soroka on the 10-day IL with right shoulder inflammation, further depleting their pitching staff.
- Both teams are dealing with significant injuries, but Arizona’s late rally kept them on track in the NL playoff race.
- Next up: Reds at Giants (Monday, 9:45 PM ET) and Cubs at Diamondbacks (Monday, 6:40 PM MST).
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