Diamondbacks Falter Again as Royals Light Up Eduardo Rodriguez
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ postseason hopes took another hit on Friday night, July 4, as the Kansas City Royals routed them 9-3 at Chase Field. With starter Eduardo Rodriguez surrendering three home runs and eight earned runs over 4 1/3 innings, the D-backs dropped to 43-45, now two games under .500 and clinging to fading wild-card aspirations.
Royals Dominate Behind Pasquantino’s Power
Kansas City slugger Vinnie Pasquantino was the star of the night, launching two home runs and driving in six of the Royals’ nine runs. He set the tone early with a three-run homer in the first inning, added an RBI single in the second, and capped his stellar performance with a two-run blast in the fourth.
For Eduardo Rodriguez, the outing marked a stark contrast to his dominant June performance, where he posted a 1.98 ERA over five starts. His struggles Friday night shattered that momentum, as he gave up nine runs (eight earned) before being pulled.
Diamondbacks Continue to Miss Opportunities
The loss extended Arizona’s losing streak to three and continued a troubling trend of failing to capitalize on winnable series. After missing chances to sweep the lowly Rockies and White Sox, and failing to finish a series against the Giants, the Diamondbacks stumbled once again against a sub-.500 opponent they needed to beat.
While still only 4.5 games out of the final National League wild-card spot, Arizona remains the weakest team in contention. Unlike contenders like the Giants, Padres, and Brewers—each of whom have enjoyed sustained hot streaks—the D-backs have been unable to string together consistent success. Their best run, a 14-7 stretch in June, has been followed by seven losses in their last nine games.
Corbin Carroll’s Return Nears
There is some optimism on the horizon. Star outfielder Corbin Carroll is nearing a return from the injured list after recovering from a wrist fracture sustained on June 18. Carroll participated in a live batting session on Friday and reported minimal pain.
Manager Torey Lovullo said Carroll’s return could come as soon as this weekend, calling his progress “very encouraging.” A healthy Carroll could inject life into a lineup that has lacked spark in recent games.
What’s Next for the Diamondbacks?
Arizona will look to rebound in the remaining two games of the series against Kansas City:
- July 5: RHP Ryne Nelson (4-2, 3.61 ERA) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (4-8, 3.62 ERA)
- July 6: RHP Zac Gallen (6-9, 5.45 ERA) vs. RHP Michael Lorenzen (4-8, 4.95 ERA)
- July 7 at Padres: RHP Merrill Kelly (7-4, 3.55 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Pivetta (9-2, 3.25 ERA)
With the season slipping away, the Diamondbacks must rally quickly or risk being left behind in the National League playoff race.
