Cardinals outlast Diamondbacks, 8-6

[May 29, 2021]  Tyler O'Neill hit a two-run homer and Nolan Arenado connected on a solo shot to help the St. Louis Cardinals record an 8-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night in Phoenix.

Yadier Molina and Dylan Carlson each contributed run-scoring doubles as St. Louis defeated Arizona for the second straight night.

The struggling Diamondbacks have lost 12 straight games, two shy of the franchise record set in 2004. Josh Reddick had three hits for Arizona, which has dropped 15 of its last 16 games and 21 of 24.

Diamondbacks starter Madison Bumgarner (4-5) was rocked for seven runs (six earned) and five hits in four innings. He struck out four, walked four and served up the homers to O'Neill and Arenado.

St. Louis right-hander Jake Woodford (1-0) struck out six and allowed one hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Right-hander Daniel Ponce de Leon gave up one run, two hits and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings for his second save in two nights.

Pavin Smith (two hits, two walks) and Josh Rojas (one hit, three walks) each reached base four times for the Diamondbacks.

Arizona loaded the bases with one out in the ninth when Reddick doubled, Nick Ahmed singled and Tim Locastro was hit by a pitch. Ketel Marte's infield out plated a run before de Leon induced Rojas to ground out to end it.

Arizona moved within 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth when Eduardo Escobar hit a two-run single to right with the bases loaded and two out off Cardinals right-hander Ryan Helsley.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) celebrates with catcher Yadier Molina (4) after hitting a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Arenado hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth to make it a three-run cushion.

The Cardinals struck for four runs in the opening inning. Paul Goldschmidt's sacrifice fly knocked in the first run and Molina's RBI double made it 2-0. O'Neill followed with his second homer in two nights.

Arizona scored in the first on Peralta's run-scoring single and added another in the second on Carson Kelly's sacrifice fly.

Arenado's homer to left in the third made it 5-2. The Diamondbacks got the run back in the bottom half when Peralta scored on Reddick's infield single.

Tommy Edman had an RBI single in the fourth and Carlson followed with a run-scoring double to push the St. Louis lead to 7-3.

Cardinals starter Johan Oviedo gave up three runs (two earned) and five hits over 4 1/3 innings. He walked six and struck out three.

--Field Level Media

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