Corbin Carroll hit a second-inning grand slam, and Eduardo Rodriguez recorded the 100th win of his major league career as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Los Angeles Angels 8-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
Arizona claimed two of three games in the interleague series behind a balanced performance that combined timely hitting with another strong start from Rodriguez. The veteran left-hander worked seven effective innings, while the Diamondbacks’ offense broke the game open early and never allowed the Angels to recover.
The Angels scored first on Zach Neto’s leadoff home run, but Arizona answered immediately and controlled the rest of the contest. The loss ended Los Angeles’ series in Phoenix on a disappointing note before the club headed to Northern California for its next road trip.
Angels Strike First
The game started well for Los Angeles when Neto launched the first pitch he saw over the fence to give the Angels a 1-0 lead.
The home run was Neto’s 15th of the season and his second in as many games. It briefly gave the Angels momentum against Rodriguez, who entered the day enjoying one of the strongest stretches of his season.
That advantage proved short-lived as Arizona quickly responded against Angels starter Sam Aldegheri.
Carroll Delivers The Decisive Blow
The Diamondbacks took control in the second inning with one swing from Carroll.
After loading the bases, the All-Star outfielder drove a pitch just beyond the wall in right field for his fifth career grand slam. The blast turned a one-run deficit into a 5-1 Arizona lead and provided all the offense Rodriguez would ultimately need.
The home run was Carroll’s 13th of the season and continued another productive campaign for the dynamic outfielder.
Arizona continued to pressure the Angels throughout the afternoon. Ketel Marte added a two-run double, while rookie Tommy Troy contributed two hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs.
Gabriel Moreno also played a key role in the offense. The catcher collected three hits and reached base four times, helping Arizona maintain steady pressure on Los Angeles pitching.
Rodriguez Reaches Career Milestone
Rodriguez delivered another efficient outing while reaching an important milestone in his career.
The veteran left-hander allowed one run on six hits across seven innings. He walked three, struck out five and consistently worked out of trouble to keep the Angels from mounting any sustained rallies.
The performance improved his record to 6-2 while lowering his earned run average to 2.45.
More significantly, the victory marked the 100th of Rodriguez’s major league career. He became just the ninth Venezuelan-born pitcher to reach that milestone, adding another achievement to a career that has spanned more than a decade.
Rodriguez kept the Angels from building on their early lead by mixing his pitches effectively and limiting hard contact after Neto’s opening home run.
Aldegheri Struggles Against Arizona Lineup
The Angels hoped Sam Aldegheri could build on his recent performances, but the Diamondbacks put him under pressure early.
The rookie left-hander lasted only three innings and surrendered six runs before exiting the game. Arizona capitalized on scoring opportunities throughout his outing, highlighted by Carroll’s grand slam that broke the game open.
Despite Neto’s early homer, the Angels struggled to generate consistent offense against Rodriguez and failed to produce another run.
Los Angeles finished with scattered hits but could not string together enough quality at-bats to challenge Arizona after the second inning.
Diamondbacks Win The Series
The victory allowed Arizona to secure the three-game series by winning two contests.
Strong pitching, timely hitting and solid defense defined the Diamondbacks’ performance throughout the afternoon. Carroll’s grand slam supplied the biggest highlight, while Rodriguez’s milestone win added another memorable moment for the home club.
For the Angels, the defeat concluded a challenging series before another division matchup on the road. Although Neto continued his impressive offensive stretch with another home run, Los Angeles could not overcome an early deficit or slow down Arizona’s balanced attack.
Up Next
The Diamondbacks return home Friday to begin a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins. Arizona is scheduled to start right-hander Michael Soroka, who enters with an 8-3 record and a 3.11 ERA. Minnesota is expected to counter with left-hander Connor Prielipp, who is 2-4 with a 5.26 ERA.
The Angels continue their road trip Thursday when they open a four-game series against the Athletics. The teams had not announced their starting pitchers following Wednesday’s game.
