Diamondbacks Sweep Doubleheader with 5-3 Victory in Game 2

Eduardo Rodriguez shines in his Diamondbacks debut as Arizona completes a three-game series sweep with a 5-3 win over Cleveland.Photo byMichael WyattonUnsplash

Making his D-backs debut, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0, 4.76 ERA) helped the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks (63-52) secure a 5-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians (67-47) on Wednesday in the second game of a doubleheader at Progressive Field, completing a three-game series sweep.

The Diamondbacks are 18-5 in their last 23 games.

Rodriguez, 31, pitched 5.2 innings, allowing 4 hits and 3 runs, with 3 earned runs, 2 walks, and 1 strikeout. He threw 65 pitches, with approximately 66.2% going for strikes.

He favored his four-seam fastball and changeup, using them 40% and 25% of the time, respectively.

Game Recap

In the second inning, Josh Bell led off with a solo home run, his third as a Diamondback, giving Arizona an early 1-0 lead.

D-backs catcher Adrian Del Castillo, making his MLB debut, smacked an RBI double to left-center, just shy of clearing the fence, for his first hit in the Majors, extending the lead to 2-0.

In the bottom of the first, Guardians David Fry hit an 89 mph four-seam fastball from Rodriguez to center field for a solo home run, cutting the lead to 2-1.

In the bottom of the second, Corbin Carroll walked, stole second base (his 21st of the season), and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Austin Hedges.

With two outs, Bell hit his second home run of the game, a 375-foot blast over the right-field fence, extending the Diamondbacks' lead to 4-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, Josh Naylor walked, Jhonkensy Noel singled, and Angel Martínez's RBI sacrifice fly made it 4-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, Cleveland's José Ramírez hit a solo home run, cutting the lead to 4-3.

With two outs, Kevin Ginkel replaced Rodriguez and got Noel to line out to left fielder Randal Grichuk, ending the inning.

In the eighth, Grichuk crushed an 83.4 mph splitter for a solo home run, his fourth of the season, to give the D-backs a 5-3 lead.

Holding on to a two-run advantage, D-backs flamethrower Justin Martinez replaced Joe Mantiply for the bottom of the ninth.

Leadoff hitter Jhonkensy Noel singled, Angel Martínez popped up for the first out, and Andrés Giménez reached on a fielder's choice. Martinez’s throw to second base pulled Perdomo off the bag and rolled into left field.

With runners at first and second, Bo Naylor struck out swinging for the second out. Martinez walked Daniel Schneemann to load the bases but then struck out Lane Thomas to end the game and series.