The Arizona Diamondbacks erased a three-run deficit and walked out of Chase Field with a 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, August 23, 2026. Ildemaro Vargas led the offense with two hits and two RBI, Corbin Carroll chipped in two hits and an RBI, and a seven-man bullpen held Cincinnati scoreless over the final six innings after starter Mitch Bratt labored through a rough first three frames. Jonathan Loáisiga earned the win, Kevin Ginkel closed it out for the save, and Arizona had the answers every time the Reds pushed back.

Diamondbacks Offense Chips Away to Complete Comeback Win

Arizona trailed early after Bratt surrendered three earned runs on five hits and three walks across just three innings of work — not the start the D-backs needed at home. But the offense refused to let the deficit stand. Vargas was the steadiest bat in the lineup, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and consistently putting the barrel on the ball in key situations. Carroll was right there with him, reaching base twice in three at-bats and driving in a run. Tim Tawa added another two-hit performance to keep the pressure on Reds starter Andrew Abbott throughout the evening.

Abbott worked six innings and struck out six, but he allowed seven hits and four earned runs — enough for Arizona to claw back and take the lead. When Abbott exited, Luis Mey ran into immediate trouble in the seventh, allowing a run on a hit and two walks in one inning of work, and that proved to be the difference.

Arizona Bullpen Dominates After Rocky Start From Bratt

After Bratt's difficult outing, the Arizona bullpen took over and delivered. Gerardo Carrillo got through 1.2 innings with three strikeouts and no earned runs allowed, despite two walks and a hit. Taylor Clarke followed with 1.1 clean innings — no hits, no runs, one strikeout. Loáisiga then worked a scoreless seventh, allowing one hit and striking out one to earn the win. Juan Morillo was sharp in the eighth, striking out one across a perfect inning. Brandyn Garcia bridged to the closer spot with 0.2 innings of one-hit, scoreless work. And Ginkel slammed the door in the ninth — one strikeout, no baserunners — to secure the save and the final 5-3 margin.

The collective bullpen line: 6.0 innings, 10 strikeouts, zero earned runs. That kind of relief performance is what turns an early deficit into a complete game victory.

Turning Point: Seventh-Inning Damage Against Reds Bullpen

The moment the game shifted decisively came in the seventh inning when Cincinnati turned to Mey out of the bullpen. He walked two batters and allowed a hit, surrendering a run that extended the Arizona lead. At that point the Reds had exhausted their best window to respond, and the D-backs' bullpen — already locked in — made sure Cincinnati never got another opening.

Key Performers

  • Ildemaro Vargas: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
  • Corbin Carroll: 2-for-3, 1 RBI
  • Tim Tawa: 2-for-4
  • Jonathan Loáisiga: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K (Win)
  • Kevin Ginkel: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K (Save)
  • Gerardo Carrillo: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 K

What's Next for the Diamondbacks

Arizona picks up a quality regular season win and moves on from this series with Cincinnati. The bullpen's performance Sunday will be something to monitor — seven arms is a lot to burn in a nine-inning game, and depth will matter as the regular season continues. For now, though, a comeback win at Chase Field is exactly the kind of result that matters in August.