The D-backs beat the Cardinals 5-3 on July 20, 2025, to complete a sweep. Merrill Kelly's strong start and Christian Walker's RBIs pushed them to .500.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Talk about a statement weekend. The Arizona Diamondbacks capped off a perfect homestand against the St. Louis Cardinals with a gritty 5-3 victory on Sunday, securing a three-game sweep and, most importantly, pulling their record back to a respectable .500. With four straight wins under their belt, the Snakes are showing serious signs of life and making it clear they intend to be a factor in the National League playoff picture.
With the win, the Diamondbacks improved to 50-50 on the season and extended their winning streak to four games, keeping them in the thick of the NL Wild Card race.
The tone for Sunday's finale was set by the bulldog on the mound, Merrill Kelly. The veteran right-hander was masterful, navigating the Cardinals lineup for six strong innings. While he issued four walks, he limited the damage to just three hits and two earned runs, striking out five. Kelly's performance was exactly what the team needed to secure the sweep, providing a solid foundation for the offense and bullpen to build upon. He's been the anchor of this rotation, and days like this show why.
The D-backs offense wasn't explosive, but it was incredibly timely. Corbin Carroll got things going, and Christian Walker delivered the biggest blow, driving in two crucial runs. It was a classic case of manufacturing runs and capitalizing on opportunities. After Kelly's exit, the bullpen was tasked with protecting a slim lead. Anthony DeSclafani was a workhorse, tossing 2.2 innings of relief and striking out four, allowing just one run to keep the Cardinals at bay. It was a full team effort to grind out the victory.
What makes this four-game surge even more impressive is that the Diamondbacks are doing it without some of their core players. All-Star Ketel Marte remains on the restricted list, and catcher Gabriel Moreno is still on the 60-day IL. Lesser teams might have folded, but Arizona has leaned on its depth, with recent call-ups like catcher Adrian Del Castillo and pitcher Trevor Richards stepping in. This resilience is a hallmark of a team with playoff aspirations, proving they can weather the storm and still rack up wins.
Reaching the .500 mark is a significant psychological milestone, but the job is far from over. The D-backs are still looking up at the Dodgers in the division, but they've firmly planted their flag in the Wild Card race. This four-game winning streak, capped by a sweep of a tough Cardinals team, could be the turning point of the season. The key now is to carry this momentum on the road and prove that this isn't just a hot streak, but the start of a sustained second-half push for October baseball.
