Corbin Carroll hit a two-run double to support 5 2/3 shutout innings from Brandon Pfaadt as the Arizona Diamondbacks bolstered their wild-card chances with a 3-0 win against the host Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
Arizona (84-74) lowered to three its magic number for clinching a National League wild-card spot with four games to play.
Despite outhitting Arizona 8-4, Chicago lost for the fifth time in seven games to fall to 60-98. The White Sox must win three of their four remaining games to avoid the franchise’s first 100-loss season since 2018.
Arizona has won 10 straight games against Chicago dating to 2014, the longest streak against an American League opponent in franchise history.
A three-run third inning Wednesday propelled the Diamondbacks to their latest victory in the interleague series. After retiring the first seven Arizona hitters, White Sox starter Luis Patino allowed five straight baserunners while uncorking a wild pitch, leading to three Diamondbacks runs.
Carroll’s two-run double put Arizona on the board, and Tommy Pham singled two batters later to drive home Ketel Marte, who reached on a walk.
The support proved plenty for Pfaadt (3-8), who won for the second time in three starts after spacing five hits and eight strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Luis Frias, Andrew Saalfrank, Ryan Thompson and Paul Sewald followed with 3 1/3 innings of three-hit, six-strikeout relief. Sewald earned his 34th save to complete Arizona’s second shutout in Chicago this month. The Diamondbacks blanked the host Cubs 1-0 on Sept. 8.
Eloy Jimenez, Andrew Vaughn and Lenyn Sosa doubled for the White Sox. Trayce Thompson, Jimenez and Sosa each had two hits. Chicago was 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Patino (0-1) scattered three runs and three hits in 2 1/3 innings, with two walks and three strikeouts.
Arizona’s Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was scratched from the lineup with left shoulder discomfort.
–Field Level Media