PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Arizona Diamondbacks bounced back from Tuesday night's shutout loss in emphatic fashion Wednesday afternoon, rolling to an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Chase Field to capture the rubber match of the three-game series.

The win improved Arizona to 38-36 on the season, while the Angels fell to 30-45. More importantly, the afternoon belonged to two stars wearing Sedona Red: Corbin Carroll, who delivered a game-changing grand slam, and Eduardo Rodriguez, who earned the 100th victory of his Major League career.

In front of 28,433 fans at Chase Field, the Diamondbacks overcame an early deficit before exploding offensively and receiving another dominant performance from Rodriguez.

Angels Strike First
Los Angeles wasted little time putting pressure on Arizona.

Leadoff hitter Zach Neto crushed a home run to center field on the game's opening at-bat. The blast was Neto's 15th home run of the season and the 13th leadoff homer of his career.

The Angels appeared poised to add more after Mike Trout followed with a single, but Rodriguez settled in quickly. Jo Adell lined out before Oswald Peraza grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Just four batters into the game, Arizona trailed 1-0.

That would be the only run the Angels would score all afternoon.

Tommy Troy Sparks Arizona Rally
Arizona answered in the bottom of the second inning thanks to rookie Tommy Troy.

After Ildemaro Vargas drew a walk and Jordan Lawlar and LuJames Groover were retired, Troy stepped to the plate looking to extend the inning.

The young outfielder delivered one of the biggest hits of his young career, ripping a triple to center field for his first career three-bagger. Vargas raced home from first base, tying the game at 1-1 and energizing the Chase Field crowd.
That was only the beginning.

Ketel Marte was hit by a pitch, Geraldo Perdomo worked a walk, and suddenly the bases were loaded for Arizona's biggest offensive threat.

Corbin Carroll Delivers the Knockout Punch
With the bases loaded and two outs, Corbin Carroll stepped into the batter's box looking for a big moment.
He got one.

Carroll launched a towering drive into the right-field seats for a grand slam, his 13th home run of the season and arguably one of his most impactful swings of 2026.

The 378-foot blast instantly transformed a 1-1 game into a 5-1 Arizona lead.

The inning showcased everything that has made Arizona dangerous this season: patience, speed, pressure, and power.
By the time the dust settled, the Diamondbacks had completely seized control.

Eduardo Rodriguez Joins Exclusive Company
While Carroll supplied the offense, Rodriguez quietly dominated on the mound.

After surrendering Neto's leadoff homer, the veteran left-hander looked every bit like an experienced ace.

Rodriguez mixed pitches effectively, generated weak contact, and repeatedly escaped trouble with double plays and timely strikeouts.

The veteran finished six strong innings while improving to 6-2 on the season, lowering his already impressive numbers and securing the milestone victory.

​The win marked:

The Chase Field crowd recognized the accomplishment as Rodriguez walked off the field after another quality start.
For a Diamondbacks team chasing a playoff spot, his consistency has become invaluable.

Diamondbacks Continue Adding On
Arizona refused to let the Angels back into the game.

In the third inning, Lawlar doubled and later scored on a bloop RBI single from Tommy Troy to extend the lead to 6-1.
The fifth inning brought another rally.

Vargas opened the frame with a walk before Lawlar singled. After Groover and Troy recorded outs, Ketel Marte delivered a clutch two-run double down the right-field line.

The hit scored Vargas and Lawlar and pushed Arizona's lead to 8-1.

Marte once again demonstrated why he remains one of the most complete offensive players in baseball.

Tommy Troy Continues to Impress
One of the most encouraging developments for Arizona was the continued emergence of Tommy Troy.

​The rookie finished with:

Troy's production from the bottom portion of the lineup gives manager Torey Lovullo another dangerous bat and additional lineup depth heading into the summer months.

Moreno Keeps Streak Alive
Another positive development came from catcher Gabriel Moreno.

Moreno reached base multiple times and continued his hot stretch at the plate. Entering the game, he had reached base safely in 12 consecutive games.

His strong afternoon helped extend that streak while continuing to provide stability in the middle of Arizona's lineup.

Moreno collected several hits and once again demonstrated why he remains one of the most important offensive and defensive players on the roster.

Bullpen Finishes the Job
After Rodriguez completed six innings, Arizona's bullpen took over.

Taylor Clarke handled the eighth inning with ease, striking out two hitters.

Juan Morillo worked a clean ninth inning, retiring all three batters he faced to secure the victory.

The bullpen combined to allow no runs over the final three innings and ensured Rodriguez's milestone win would not be spoiled.

Series Victory Important for Arizona
The victory allowed Arizona to secure another rubber-game win and continue a successful trend in deciding games.
The Diamondbacks entered the contest having won their previous two rubber matches and improved that record yet again.

They also earned their fifth series victory over the Angels in the last seven meetings dating back to 2018.

After a frustrating shutout loss Tuesday night, Arizona responded exactly the way playoff contenders should: by taking control early, delivering a knockout blow, and cruising to victory.

Final Thoughts
Wednesday's win checked every box for the Diamondbacks.

They received a milestone performance from Eduardo Rodriguez, a superstar moment from Corbin Carroll, continued development from Tommy Troy and Jordan Lawlar, and another productive afternoon from Ketel Marte and Gabriel Moreno.

Most importantly, they left Chase Field with a series victory and momentum heading into a challenging weekend matchup against the Minnesota Twins.

If Arizona can continue receiving elite pitching from Rodriguez and explosive offensive production from Carroll and Marte, the Diamondbacks will remain firmly in the National League postseason conversation throughout the summer.

​Final Score: Arizona Diamondbacks 8, Los Angeles Angels 1

Past Diamondbacks Articles:
Angels Blank Diamondbacks 7-0 as Arizona's Offense Goes Silent at Chase Field. 
​​Diamondbacks Edge Angels 4-3 as Pavin Smith’s First Homer of the Season Proves the Difference 

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