Diamondbacks place Soroka on IL, recall Carrillo
The Arizona Diamondbacks placed right-hander Michael Soroka on the 15-day injured list on Sunday, one day after he allowed six runs in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds. The team recalled right-hander Gerardo Carrillo from Triple-A Reno to take his roster spot, as reported by MLB News.
Soroka had been making his third start since returning from a left glute injury, but was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation. He struggled in Saturday's outing, giving up six runs on six hits with three walks in 3 1/3 innings. "The fastball command just wasn't where it needed to be, wasn't where it had been all year," Soroka said after the game, per MLB News. "Not good. Just falling behind from the get-go."
Soroka has an 8-4 record with a 3.40 ERA this season, according to multiple reports. Before his glute injury, he had been one of the team's best starters, and in his first two starts after returning he allowed just two runs in 10 innings. The latest injury is a right shoulder inflammation, and the team hopes he will return after the mandatory 15 days, as stated by MLB News.
The move adds to the Diamondbacks' pitching challenges, as starters Zac Gallen, Ryne Nelson, and Corbin Burnes are all on the injured list with elbow injuries. The team hopes Gallen and Burnes can return in early September. To fill rotation and other spots, right-hander Jose Cabrera and lefty Kohl Drake are potential options from Triple-A, according to multiple reports.
Comeback win over Reds
Despite the injury news, the Diamondbacks rallied for a 5-3 win over the Reds on Sunday afternoon at Chase Field. Trailing 3-0 through five innings, Arizona scored one in the sixth and four in the seventh to secure the comeback victory. Ildemaro Vargas hit a two-run triple in the seventh-inning rally, and the bullpen held Cincinnati scoreless over the final six innings, with Carrillo throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Mitch Bratt started for the Diamondbacks and gave up three runs in three innings, allowing five hits and three walks. Bratt has a 4.54 ERA this season, with 25 walks and 28 strikeouts in 39.2 innings, as reported by Sports Illustrated. He was sent down to Triple-A Reno after the start, with Juan Burgos recalled to take his place.
The team also activated Drey Jameson from the injured list on Sunday and designated Zack Littell for assignment, according to MLB News.
Playoff picture
With the win, the Diamondbacks improved to 69-62, two games behind the San Diego Padres for the final wild-card spot in the National League. The Philadelphia Phillies and Padres both won on Sunday, so Arizona did not gain ground, but avoided losing any.
The Chicago Cubs, at 75-63, sit ahead of the Diamondbacks in the wild-card race, and the Miami Marlins are two games back, holding the tiebreaker between the two teams. The Cubs swept a three-game series against the Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field earlier this year, as noted by one report. Arizona will face the Phillies and Padres again before the season ends.
Quotes from the clubhouse
Vargas emphasized the importance of the win, saying, "That's what we need to do: take series, stack wins," as reported by Sports Illustrated. He added that the race is close and the team needs to stay positive.
The Diamondbacks manager, whose name appears as both Torey Lovullo and Torey Miller in different reports, reflected on a difficult stretch for the club, saying, "I'm not gonna lie, it was rough," according to MLB News. He noted that the players had shown frustration and distraction, but "they have come out the other end and backed it up with their play."