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Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks shut down Pirates

Jul 29, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (57) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesJul 29, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (57) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Eduardo Rodriguez threw eight scoreless innings, and Gabriel Moreno hit a go-ahead two-run home run to propel the Arizona Diamondbacks to a potentially crucial 3-0 shutout of the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon.

Arizona won two of three against Pittsburgh and are tied for second in the National League wild-card race. The Diamondbacks also secured the season tiebreaker against the Pirates, who are one of multiple teams in contention for a postseason berth.

The Pirates went 2-4 over their past six games at home against the Chicago Cubs and Diamondbacks, who are two of those contending teams.

Rodriguez (10-3) continues to pitch well in his first All-Star season, allowing five hits and one walk. Rodriguez struck out only two after throwing 105 pitches, but the left-hander kept Pittsburgh’s potent lineup in check with eight groundball outs, and he did not allow an extra-base hit.

It was Rodriguez’s longest start since May 10 when he pitched 8 1/3 innings against the visiting New York Mets, and only the second time he threw eight or more innings this season.

Diamondbacks starters were sharp throughout the series, not allowing an earned run in a combined 20 2/3 innings.

Pirates starter Jared Jones (2-2) delivered a quality start and retired the first nine batters he faced.

Corbin Carroll broke that up with a double to lead off the fourth inning. Moreno followed one out later by blasting a two-run homer to center for his eighth of the season.

Moreno also scored the Diamondbacks’ third run in the sixth inning after he walked with two outs, moved to third on Ketel Marte’s single and scored when Max Kepler laced a single to right field off Jones.

Jones gave up four hits overall, walked two and struck out five on 77 pitches. Kepler finished with two of the Diamondback’s six hits. Jared Triolo had two hits of the Pirates’ five hits.

Brandyn Garcia picked up his second save for Arizona, after striking out two and working around a walk in the ninth.

The Pirates optioned infielder/outfielder Tyler Callihan, left-hander Brandon Eisert and right-hander Isaac Mattson to Triple-A Indianapolis and recalled left-hander Hunter Barco, right-hander Noah Murdock and outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia.

–Field Level Media

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Gabriel Moreno leads Diamondbacks to win over Guardians

Jul 31, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) reacts at second base during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn ImagesJul 31, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) reacts at second base during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images

Gabriel Moreno finished a fantastic July in style as his RBI single in the eighth inning lifted the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-1 victory over the host Cleveland Guardians on Friday.

The Diamondbacks catcher was 1-for-3 and also reached on a hit by pitch as he extended his on-base streak to 27 games and a franchise-record 46 starts. In 25 games during July, he batted .362 (34-for-94) with three home runs and 19 runs driven in.

Arizona did all of its damage in the top of the eighth, wasting what was a masterful performance by Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (4-11). For the first seven innings, the right-hander, 27, limited the Diamondbacks to just two hits.

Bibee got Adrian Del Castillo swinging to start the eighth, but he then walked Tim Tawa. Ryan Waldschmidt (2-for-3) followed with a single to end Bibee’s night. The Progressive Field crowd gave him a standing ovation as he exited, but the bullpen could not preserve the lead.

Erik Sabrowski walked Corbin Carroll to load the bases and gave up a single to Geraldo Perdomo (2-for-4) to tie the game.

Then it was Moreno’s turn. He took a 1-0 offering the other way to right field to bring home Waldschmidt with the go-ahead run. The base hit glanced off Angel Martinez’s glove, allowing the remaining runners to advance a base and make it 3-1.

Bibee limited the Diamondbacks to three hits and a walk over 7 1/3 innings. His two runs were earned, and he struck out three and hit a pair of batters.

Rookie starter Mitch Bratt nearly matched Bibee as the left-hander went five innings for Arizona. He gave up three hits and four walks, and the only Guardians run came in the first.

Jose Ramirez walked with one out and stole second. After another out, Rhys Hoskins’ single put the Guardians ahead.

Four Diamondbacks relievers allowed just a walk to Cleveland over the final four innings. Jonathan Loaisiga (3-3) gave up that free pass in the seventh but earned the win. Brandyn Garcia got his second save in as many games.

Steven Kwan got two of the Guardians’ three hits and worked a walk as the outfielder had a perfect night at the plate.

–Field Level Media

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Four-run seventh propels Orioles past reeling Phillies

Jul 31, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) celebrates with pinch hitter Christian Encarnacion-Strand (32) after scoring on a two RBI triple hit by shortstop Gunnar Henderson (not pictured) during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn ImagesJul 31, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) celebrates with pinch hitter Christian Encarnacion-Strand (32) after scoring on a two RBI triple hit by shortstop Gunnar Henderson (not pictured) during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Gunnar Henderson’s two-run triple with two outs in the seventh inning lifted the Baltimore Orioles past the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 6-4 in the opener of a three-game series Friday night.

Pete Alonso homered for the Orioles, who notched a four-run uprising in the seventh to produce their first back-to-back victories in nearly two weeks.

Anthony Nunez (3-2) picked up the win with two-thirds of an inning. Taylor Ward pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto homered for the Phillies, who’ve lost eight of their last nine games. Turner finished with three hits — half of Philadelphia’s total. Andrew Painter posted a rare strong effort as a Phillies starter, but it didn’t pay off.

Painter, appearing in his first big-league game since June 17, delivered a quality start. Over six innings, he held the Orioles to two runs on three hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

The Orioles tied the game on Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s two-run double with one out in the seventh against Orion Kerkering (6-1).

Baltimore starter Brandon Young went 5 2/3 innings, charged with four runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. He had surrendered only two runs across 13 1/3 innings over his previous two starts.

The Phillies have lost Painter’s last six outings. He hasn’t won since his big-league debut March 31 vs. Washington.

The game’s first three batters reached base, with Turner’s leadoff infield single resulting in a run following a walk and Bryce Harper’s RBI single. Brandon Marsh’s groundout provided another run for a 2-0 edge.

It took only two batters for Baltimore to pull even. Dylan Beavers led off with a double and Alonso followed with his team-leading 23rd home run of the season.

Leading off the third, Turner belted a go-ahead home run, his 16th of 2026.

After Alonso’s single in the third, Painter retired the next 10 batters before issuing a walk to Taylor Ward in the sixth.

Realmuto’s first home run since July 8 was his eighth of the season as the Phillies regained a two-run advantage in the sixth.

–Field Level Media

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Janson Junk, bullpen help Marlins even series against Mets

Jul 31, 2026; New York City, New York, USA;  Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk (26) pitches in the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesJul 31, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk (26) pitches in the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Janson Junk and four relievers combined on a seven-hitter Friday night for the visiting Miami Marlins, who beat the New York Mets 5-2, leveling the four-game series at one win apiece.

Jakob Marsee, Joe Mack and Xavier Edwards had RBI hits during a four-run fifth inning for the Marlins, who have won four of five following a 12-game losing streak. Kyle Stowers added a solo homer in the sixth.

A.J. Ewing had a run-scoring single and Francisco Lindor homered for the Mets, who fell to 7-7 since the All-Star break. Carson Benge went 3-for-4.

Junk (5-6) gave up an unearned run on three hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings. The 30-year-old right-hander, who made his fourth start since returning from the injured list July 9, retired the first 10 batters he faced and didn’t allow a hit until Benge doubled with two outs in the fourth.

Cade Gibson, Calvin Faucher and Tyler Zuber combined to allow one run over three innings before Pete Fairbanks threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his 16th save.

Kodai Senga (0-8) took the loss as the last-second starter for the Mets, who scratched Freddy Peralta because New York is involved in trade talks involving the impending free agent. Senga allowed three runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four over four-plus innings.

Senga, making his first start since June 23, allowed just one hit — Mack’s third-inning double — through four innings before tiring in the fifth. Griffin Conine and Heriberto Hernandez worked walks to open the frame before Marsee chased Senga with a two-run double to right.

Mack greeted Xzavion Curry with a run-scoring single and went to second on Javier Sanoja’s groundout before scoring on Edwards’ two-out bloop single.

The Mets scratched out an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. Jorge Polanco reached on a two-out error at first base by Stowers. Francisco Alvarez walked before Polanco scored on Ewing’s single to center.

Stowers went deep with one out in the sixth, and Lindor homered off the second deck in right in the seventh.

–Field Level Media

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