Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte, left, scores a run as Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson waits for a late throw during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won 5-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (12) celebrates his home run against the Cincinnati Reds as umpire Chris Segal looks on during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Ryan Thompson (81) gets a high-five from Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, left, after the final out in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won 5-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte, left, catches his balance after backing away from an inside pitch as Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson throws back to the pitcher during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz fields a grounder hit by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Geraldo Perdomo before throwing to first base for the out during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Cincinnati Reds center fielder TJ Friedl crashes into the center field wall on a triple hit by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in Phoenix. Diamondbacks’ Carroll was thrown out at home plate trying to stretch the triple into and inside-the-park home run. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Cincinnati Reds’ Will Benson, right, celebrates his run scored against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Reds’ Elly De La Cruz (44) during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
By JACK THOMPSON Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP) — Christian Walker hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded that scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on Sunday.
The Diamondbacks took three of four games against the Reds and held on to the National League’s last wild-card spot. Arizona leads the Cincinnati by 1 1/2 games.
Corbin Carroll walked to lead off the eighth and stole second for his 40th steal of the season. Ketel Marte also walked and Lucas Sims relieved Ian Gibaut (8-3). Sims walked Tommy Pham to load the bases. Walker followed with a deep fly to center that scored Carroll and moved Marte to third.
Pham then stole second and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. walked to again load the bases before Evan Longoria lofted a sac fly to left that scored Marte. Alek Thomas added an RBI single — the only Arizona hit of the inning — to make it 5-2.
Carroll became just the fourth rookie with at least 20 homers and 40 steals. The others are Tommie Agee (1966, White Sox), Mitchell Page (1977, A’s) and Mike Trout (2012, Angels). Carroll has 22 home runs this season.
Gurriel hit his 20th homer of the season leading off the seventh to tie the game at 2.
Arizona’s Scott McGough (2-7) pitched 1 2/3 innings, striking out three. Ryan Thompson, called up from Triple-A on Sunday, and earned his first save.
Slade Cecconi pitched 5 2/3 innings for Arizona, giving up three hits and one run. He struck out five and walked none. Cecconi retired 15 in a row after giving up a leadoff hit to TJ Friedl.
Graham Ashcraft left after 6 2/3 innings, following his only walk of the game. He gave up seven hits and two runs while striking out five.
BANG BANG
Carroll drove one off the center-field wall with two out in the fifth, but settled for a triple as he was out trying for an inside-the-park homer. The relay throw from Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz was clocked at 99.7 mph.
MOVES
Reds: Recalled RHP Daniel Duarte from Louisville and sent RHP Brett Kennedy to the Triple-A team. It’s the fifth time Duarte (3.86 ERA in 18 2/3 IP) has been called up this season.
Diamondbacks: To make room for Thompson, RHP Nabil Crismatt, who pitched two scoreless innings on Saturday in his first game for Arizona, was designated for assignment.
NEXT
Reds: Begin a series in San Francisco. LHP Andrew Abbott (8-3, 3.16) gets the Monday start for Cincinnati.
Diamondbacks: Travel to Los Angeles to open a series with the Dodgers on Monday. RHP Zac Gallen (14-5, 3.11)
