CINCINNATI — Elly De La Cruz hit his first profession leadoff homer and Nick Senzel linked for a two-run shot, serving to the Cincinnati Reds sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 7-3 victory on Sunday.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand had two hits and two RBIs as Cincinnati earned its fifth straight victory total. It was the Reds’ first sweep of the Diamondbacks since July 6-8, 2007, at Great American Ball Park.

Cincinnati (55-46) moved inside a half-game of NL Central-leading Milwaukee. The Reds open a three-game set on the Brewers on Monday night time.

“The Diamondbacks just came off a big series win in Atlanta,” Senzel stated. “They are kind of like us, a young talented team. We knew we had to play our best baseball. We did that. To get three big wins against them was just huge.”

Derek Law (4-4) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Lucas Sims received two outs for his second save.

Arizona (54-46) loaded the bases within the ninth, however Lourdes Gurriel Jr. bounced right into a game-ending double play.

PHOTOS: Elly De La Cruz homers as Cincinnati Reds sweep Arizona Diamondbacks with 7-3 win

“We’re not playing the type of baseball we’ve played all year,” Diamondbacks supervisor Torey Lovullo stated. “We’re all frustrated by it.”

Corbin Carroll hit his twenty first homer for the Diamondbacks, and Ketel Marte went 2 for two with three walks.

Right-hander Jose Ruiz made his thirty eighth look and second profession begin for Arizona in a bullpen sport. It was Ruiz’s first begin since Sept. 26, 2019.

Ruiz dedicated a pitch-clock violation previous to his first pitch of the sport. Then, on a 3-1 depend, De La Cruz launched his fifth homer of the season.

De La Cruz, who had been scuffling on the plate, was out of the beginning lineup on Saturday. It appeared as if the remaining helped the rookie.

“Just the way we drew it up,” Reds supervisor David Bell stated. “Elly handled it great. He looked a little refreshed.”

Senzel’s eighth homer made it 3-0 within the second. Ruiz allowed 5 hits in 1 2/3 innings.

“Elly started it off, he kind of set the tone,” Senzel stated. “I just tried to take a good at-bat and build on what Elly did to start us off.”

Reds right-hander Luke Weaver permitted three runs and eight hits in four-plus innings. He left his earlier begin within the third after being struck on the left arm by a line drive.

The Diamondbacks received their first run when Reds first baseman Spencer Steer floated the ball over Weaver’s head and down the right-field line. Geraldo Perdomo scored from first on the throwing error within the fifth.

Carroll adopted with a tying two-run shot to heart. The rookie additionally homered throughout Saturday’s 4-2 loss.

“I knew it was a homer off the bat,” Carroll stated. “It was good to get one and tie the game up.”

Cincinnati regained the lead on Jake Fraley’s RBI double off Tyler Gilbert (0-1) within the sixth, after which broke it open with three runs within the eighth. Steer hit an RBI single and Encarnacion-Strand drove in two extra runs with a bases-loaded single.

The Diamondbacks went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring place. They closed out a 2-7 highway journey.

“Tough stretch for us,” Carroll stated. “Everybody’s got a lot of belief in each other. It might be a little bit of a small sample. Got to keep playing. Don’t change our game. Keep trying to get better.”

FAMILIAR FOES

Cincinnati is 2-8 towards Milwaukee this yr. The upcoming collection is the ultimate scheduled assembly of the season between the NL Central rivals.

“We know what we’re up against,” Bell stated. “They have a good team. No question our players want that opportunity. They have worked hard to put us in the situation where these games are important. We have a lot of confidence with the way we’re playing.”

TRAINERS ROOM

Diamondbacks: C Gabriel Moreno (left shoulder irritation) was positioned on the 10-day injured listing, and C Jose Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Reno.

Reds: RHP Tejay Antone (Tommy John surgical procedure) will start a rehab project on the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday. If all goes properly, he'll return by Aug. 19.

UP NEXT

Reds: RHP Graham Ashcraft (5-7, 5.77 ERA) will face Brewers RHP Colin Rea (5-4, 4.64 ERA) on Monday.

Diamondbacks: RHP Ryne Nelson (6-5, 4.82) will begin Monday’s collection opener towards the Cardinals. Adam Wainwright (3-4, 7.66 ERA) goes for St. Louis.

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