# Seventh-Inning Avalanche Proves the Arizona Diamondbacks Are Built to Weather the NL West Arms Race

**By Hank Morrow**  \nPublished August 3, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> Geraldo Perdomo and Corbin Carroll sparked a seven-run seventh inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks powered past the Cleveland Guardians 12-8 for their fourth straight victory.

When a team holding the National League’s second wild-card spot watches the Los Angeles Dodgers acquire a frontline ace like Tarik Skubal at the deadline, the psychological response in the visiting clubhouse can easily tilt toward resignation. Yet as the Arizona Diamondbacks demonstrated at Progressive Field, a 14-5 tear since July 9 provides its own insulation against panic. Asked about the Dodgers enriching an already formidable pitching stable, catcher James McCann offered a pragmatic laugh. You talk about scoreboard watching and all that, and really one thing I think that we do well in here is we focus on ourselves, McCann noted, emphasizing a belief in internal execution over external anxiety.

Manager Torey Lovullo echoed that sentiment, admitting he wished the Skubal trade hadn't happened while tipping his cap to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. We can't feel sorry for ourselves; I don't think anybody else in the league can, for that matter, Lovullo said. That resolute mindset translated directly onto the diamond on Saturday night, where the Diamondbacks turned a tense, grinding battle into a 12-8 victory over the Cleveland Guardians, clinching their fourth consecutive win.

## The Seventh-Inning Deluge

For six innings, Cleveland left-hander Parker Messick labored through a 91-pitch outing, while Arizona rookie starter Kohl Drake navigated four frames of two-run baseball. But once the Cleveland bullpen took over, the game unraveled violently for the hosts. Ten Diamondbacks stepped to the plate in a chaotic seventh inning that turned a tight contest into a rout.

Geraldo Perdomo ignited the frame by launching the first pitch he saw from reliever Hunter Gaddis over the right-field wall for a go-ahead solo shot. It was part of a stellar night for Perdomo, who matched the fourth four-hit game of his six-year career, driving in three runs and pushing his series tally to 6-for-10 with four RBIs. After Perdomo's blow, Arizona continued to apply pressure with two outs. Ildemaro Vargas chipped in an RBI single, James McCann delivered a two-run double, and Corbin Carroll put the inning out of reach by crushing a three-run home run to center off Franco Aleman.

Seventh-Inning Scoring Sequence BreakdownBatterActionPitcherResulting ScoreGeraldo PerdomoSolo Home Run (First Pitch)Hunter GaddisARI 3, CLE 2Ildemaro VargasRBI SingleCleveland BullpenARI 4, CLE 2James McCannTwo-Run DoubleCleveland BullpenARI 6, CLE 2Corbin CarrollThree-Run Home RunFranco AlemanARI 9, CLE 2

## Roster Leverage and Milestone Shifts

The offensive explosion masked a rare milestone at the bottom of the Arizona order: catcher Gabriel Moreno went 0-for-6, officially snapping his remarkable on-base streak at 27 games and bringing an end to his franchise-record 46-game streak of reaching safely in consecutive starts. Meanwhile, Nolan Arenado padded the lead in the eighth with a solo shot, pushing the advantage to 10-2 before a five-run Cleveland counter-rally—sparked by a home run from Chase DeLauter and a two-run single by Steven Kwan—briefly threatened to close the gap against the Arizona bullpen.

For Cleveland (56-56), the loss dropped the club to the .500 mark for the first time since May 10, underscoring their difficult 5-10 stretch since the All-Star break. Despite the stumble, the Guardians remain deadlocked with the Minnesota Twins for the third and final American League wild-card spot.

## Dugout Dynamics and Personal Bonds

Amidst the high-stakes pennant race, the series has also highlighted a close friendship between opposing dugouts. Perdomo and Cleveland veteran infielder José Ramírez share an agency, a Dominican Republic heritage, and a constant line of communication. He's my brother, Perdomo said of Ramírez, whom he tagged during a playful basepath encounter earlier in the series. He's one of the biggest mentors I have in baseball. Lovullo praised the veteran infielder's influence on his young shortstop, noting that the two play a similarly heady, intelligent brand of baseball.

## Evidence-Led Forecast: Sunday’s Series Finale

As the series wraps up on Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field, the pitching matchup features Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly (8-8, 4.36 ERA) against Cleveland righty Gavin Williams (10-6, 3.71 ERA).

- **Tactical Pattern:** Kelly has engineered a remarkable turnaround after battling high earned run averages earlier in the summer, posting a stellar 1.95 ERA in July and coming off 5 2/3 scoreless innings against Pittsburgh. Williams, who leads the Guardians in wins and strikeouts (168), typically works deep into games, having pitched seven innings in three of his last four outings. Expect an initial tactical chess match where early-count efficiency dictates bullpen usage.
- **Decisive Matchup:** The battle between Williams' high-octane strikeout stuff and Arizona’s surging top-of-the-order bats—particularly Perdomo, who is seeing the ball exceptionally well—will likely decide whether Cleveland can stave off a series sweep.
- **Strongest Counter-Case:** While the Diamondbacks hold the momentum with four straight wins and an impressive 14-5 run since July 9, Williams shut down Arizona last August with 5 2/3 shutout frames and five strikeouts, proving he can neutralize their lineup when locating his secondary offerings.
- **What Would Change the Read:** An early structural breakdown from either bullpen could instantly swing the contest, especially given that both relief corps have shown fatigue and vulnerability over the late July and early August slate.With a crucial homestand against San Diego looming immediately after this interleague stop, the Diamondbacks are proving that quiet confidence and relentless multi-run innings remain the best antidotes to their rivals' aggressive deadline maneuvers.

## Sources

- [sportsdata.usatoday.com](https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/baseball/mlb/summary/2941467) — original
- [Sue Ogrocki - AP](http://www.hjnews.com/sports/nation/diamondback-guardians-baseball/image_d665826a-6754-5127-be54-936da0e1ea8f.html) — original
- [By: Joe Reedy, The Associated Press
				 Posted:  10:01 PM CDT Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026](https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/baseball/2026/08/01/perdomo-carroll-homer-in-7-run-7th-in-diamondbacks-12-8-win-over-the-guardians) — original
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- [JOE REEDY, AP Sports Writer](https://www.dcourier.com/sports/perdomo-carroll-homer-in-7-run-7th-in-d-backs-12-8-win-over-guardians/article_c323293d-dbd8-5099-a280-aebde8190bfd.html) — original
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