D-backs get good news with Marte's X-rays after gaining ground in Wild Card race

SAN FRANCISCO -- It was a double dose of good news for the Diamondbacks in their series finale against the Giants on Wednesday.

Not only did manager Torey Lovullo’s club put together a very solid 5-3 win highlighted by a sturdy offense, solid defense and mostly dominant pitching, but Arizona also avoided a big blow when X-rays showed no significant damage to Ketel Marte after the veteran second baseman left the game in the bottom of the seventh inning due to a right foot contusion that he suffered after fouling a ball off the instep of his foot in the first.

Marte trotted out to his defensive position at Oracle Park in the bottom of the seventh before a team trainer was called onto the field. Following a brief discussion, Marte walked slowly off the field.

“I know it got him good. I could tell by his body language that he wasn’t feeling good,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “He’s one of the best players in the National League. I want him on the field. I’ll pencil him in right now to start at second base in Minnesota.”

That was the only cloud during an otherwise clean game that kept the Diamondbacks in the hunt for a postseason bid.

Geraldo Perdomo hit the first leadoff home run of his career and added an RBI single to back a strong outing from Eduardo Rodriguez and help the Diamondbacks (73-74) end a three-game skid and avoid a series sweep.

With 15 games remaining, the Diamondbacks inched closer to getting into the postseason. With the win, the D-backs are 3 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for the final NL Wild Card spot. That sets the stage for a wild final two weeks to the regular season.

Of Arizona’s final 15 games, 12 are against division leaders or other teams in the hunt for a Wild Card berth, although Rodriguez said the Diamondbacks are focusing more on themselves than the playoff picture.

“We don’t feel like we’re thinking, ‘Where are we at in the standings?'” Rodriguez said. “That’s the mentality you have to have. If you put pressure on yourself, that’s when you end up making errors or losing the game. Right now, we’re just going out there and having fun.”

The Diamondbacks had the perfect formula working against the Giants on Wednesday.

Perdomo homered on the fourth pitch of the game to lead an offensive onslaught that forced Giants starter Carson Seymour to exit early in the second inning. Alek Thomas and Tim Tawa each had two hits while Marte added an RBI on a sac fly.

That was more than enough support for Rodriguez, who was dominant most of the afternoon at Oracle Park while winning a third consecutive start for the first time since 2023.

“Today, I was able to locate my fastball where I wanted,” Rodriguez said. “That’s what you want to do as a pitcher, establish the fastball for a strike. Everything was working really well.”

The 32-year-old retired 13 of the first 14 batters he faced and didn’t allow a hit until Casey Schmitt’s soft one-out single to left in the fifth. Rodriguez (8-8) struck out six and walked two in 6 1/3 scoreless innings.

It was good enough to catch the eye of Giants manager Bob Melvin.

“Really good changeup, had some life on his heater, moving a little bit,” Melvin said of Rodriguez. “Throws his fastball [and] cutter inside to keep you off the changeup away. That’s what he’s been doing the last few times out. He’s pitched well."