PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks had been receiving better production from their starting rotation of late, but that did not materialize in a 9-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals on the Fourth of July.
Eduardo Rodriguez had a rough night on Friday, and it started early. The Royals took a 3-0 lead three batters into the game, as Vinnie Pasquantino hit his first of two home runs off Rodriguez.
Rodriguez allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits through 4.1 innings pitched, a real stinker after he had been trending positively. The veteran entered Friday with a 1.98 ERA in five starts coming off the injured list last month.
The Diamondbacks’ offense initially fought back with two runs in the first inning off Royals starter Kris Bubic, but they just kept facing a steeper and steeper climb. Arizona trailed 6-2 in the second inning and 8-2 in the third.
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Rodriguez’s command did not appear to be tight, as most of Kansas City’s hits off him were on fastballs down the middle. He managed seven strikeouts and 13 whiffs, but six runs scored on three home runs.
After his performance on Friday, Rodriguez’s season-long ERA increased to 5.78. The Royals coming into Friday had scored the fewest runs in Major League Baseball with 3.3 per game.
Over the previous 10 games, Arizona starters worked a 3.45 ERA, but the run prevention issue has persisted. The Diamondbacks have allowed six or more runs in seven of their last nine games played.
They have allowed at least nine runs 15 times this season and are 2-13 in those games. Only the Athletics and Colorado Rockies have given up nine or more runs more frequently.
Bubic, meanwhile, tossed seven innings with three earned runs on seven hits.
Eugenio Suarez hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, his 28th long ball of the season. In the last calendar year, Suarez has blasted 52 home runs, second to Shohei Ohtani in the National League during that span.
ARI – Eugenio Suárez Solo HR (28)
? Distance: 376 ft ? EV: 96.8 mph ? LA: 35° ⚾️ 83.1 mph sweeper (KC – LHP Kris Bubic) ?️ Would be out in 29/30 MLB parks
KC (9) @ ARI (3) ? 6th#Dbacks pic.twitter.com/aLX5VvAlts
— MLB Home Runs? (@MLBHRs_) July 5, 2025
Geraldo Perdomo, meanwhile, reached base four times with two singles and two walks.
The D-backs fell to 43-45, dropping to 4.5 games back of the third NL Wild Card spot.
Diamondbacks’ next game
The Diamondbacks will look to snap a three-game losing streak on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. MST.
Ryne Nelson will look to be the stopper as he was on Monday against the San Francisco Giants (6.2 IP, 2 ER). Kansas City (42-47) will turn to veteran right-hander Michael Wacha (3.62 ERA).
Catch the game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
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