PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - D-backs Recap: D-backs CONTINUE to OWN the Braves, Secure Series Win in ATL

Episode Date: August 16, 2026

The Arizona Diamondbacks beat the brakes off the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, cruising to a 10-3 victory and securing another series win. The Mayor recaps the big day from the offense putting up 10 runs, who repaid the pitching staff for their scoreless effort from game 1, while Eduardo Rodriguez bounced back from a shaky first inning to deliver another outstanding start. Also, Derek provides a quick update on the very close NL Wild Card race and the impact every win has right now. JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/yc6km2r4 An ALLCITY Network Production SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtube ALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsports MERCH https://store.allcitynetwork.com/collections/phnx-locker ALLCITY Network, Inc. aka PHNX and PHNX Sports is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Phoenix PHNX Events: Get your tickets to PHNX events and takeovers here: https://gophnx.com/events/ ALLCITY — including us here at PHNX — is teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for an exciting three-year partnership. To learn more, visit https://www.bbbs.org/allcity/ Branded Bills: Use code BBPHNX15 at https://www.brandedbills.com/ for 15% off your first order! Husband & Wife Law Team: If you’ve had a serious injury, Call The Husband & Wife Law Team first at 602-783-8841 or visit https://husbandandwifelawteam.com/?utm_source=allcity-padcasts&utm_medium=digital-phx&utm_campaign=allcityShowNotes Gametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Shady Rays: Head to https://shadyrays.com and use code: PHNX for 40% 2+ pairs of off polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people. Circle K: Join Inner Circle for free by downloading the Circle K app today! Head to https://www.circlek.com/store-locator to find Circle Ks near you! When you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello and welcome in to another edition of D-BACs recap. My name is Derek Monti, occasionally known as your mayor of P.HNX. And maybe if I just feel like it, I might be the mayor of Atlanta after the Arizona Diamondbacks. Once again, found a way to win another big game in the ATL. This time, absolutely abusing the Atlanta Braves, winning by a score of 10 to 3. not only is this win huge as far as once again the implications are for the debacks in the wild card race and will be for the rest of the season obviously that goes without saying but this is as we previewed on thursday of this week on the regular show a big road trip right against some of the better teams in baseball i don't know how to feel necessarily about the boston red sox So what happens in that series remains to be seen. But so far what I've seen is the Diamondbacks win,

a pitcher's duel between Brandon Fott and Chris Sale on Friday. And then on a night where the Braves look like they were going to maybe cause Erod to have a lot of pain on the mound, he really just dug in and gave this team an absolute outstanding. start once again. A start that began with Ronald Acuna hitting his 13th home run of the season off of him as the leadoff hitter in this game. It was followed by a succession of hits. Drake Baldwin had a double then Matt Olson added a single and it truly looked like it was going to be just an outrageously bad outing for Erod. Eventually the Braves were able to plate a second

run in the first inning on a ground out by Michael Harris the second that scored Drake Baldwin but after that Erod sat down 15 out of the next 16 batters faced regardless of what the broadcast said broadcast said he had 13 consecutive batters sat down I would like to say just as someone that hosts a podcast and also has to do social media. Sometimes I don't have the time to do the fact checking that's needed in this job. So I would appreciate if the broadcast got things correct so that when I copied their information that they were presenting, it was the right information. In this case, it wasn't because Ronald Acuna did get another single off of Eduardo Rodriguez there in the fifth inning.

But it's a moot point. Erod was outstanding on a night where the Diamondbacks absolutely needed to secure a series victory and give themselves the opportunity to go for the sweep on Sunday, Erod absolutely delivered after that first inning. What he got was something that we are not used to the Diamondbacks doing, which is an offensive response because they looked pretty dead in the water in the first inning. And after that, the offense came alive. Snakes were alive. started with a Moreno walk.

Max Kepler doubled. You had runners in scoring position there. Nolan Aronato did ground out softly to third baseman Austin Riley, but Gabriel Moreno was able to score, and the Diamondbacks were able to cut the lead from 2-0 to 2-1. Then you had Tim Tawa with an RBI single. That tied the game. After Ildomaros Vargas grounded out with two outs in the inning.

Ryan Walschmidt singled and brought home, Tim Tawa to make it three to two. Those were all of the type of hits that we've been talking about lately that the Diamondbacks have not been able to get with runners in scoring position. And that completely changed the outcome of this game. As did Nolan Aeronado showing that not only does Unck still got it as the Diamondbacks social media team tweeted out, but Unk never lost it.

Unk never lost it. Nolan Aronado goes yard twice in this game for his 19th and 20th home runs of the season. He has four RBI and three runs scored, went two for four with a walk and two home runs. Cannot say enough about what we are getting out of Aronado, especially considering the amount of his contract that the St. Louis Cardinals are still paying for. Aronado is dirt cheap considering that he is currently hitting 243 with a 768 OPS and 20 bombs this season.

And again, man, I mean, he is a guy that we had said at one point if we could get the production, maybe not necessarily out of 25 Aronado, because he was having a bit of a down year last year. But if we were saying, if you got 24 production out of our, Aronado, then you feel incredibly good about that deal that the Diamondbacks made. But it goes beyond that.

It's not just that production, right? It's the fact that Aronado now has 20 bombs this season. And according to our guy Alex Dagestino and his tweet that he sent out, he hit 28 combined home runs between 24 and 25. This is the first time he has reached the 20 home run mark since 20. So is Arnato worth the contract every goddamn dime of it of the measly, I believe, $5 million they're paying him this year while the St. Louis Cardinals pick up the rest of his contract. I know people aren't big fans of the moves Mike Hazen has made, and I know they are not the flashy

moves that most of us want to see our GM make. I know we compare ourselves to other team, and as you may have heard in life, comparison can sometimes be the thief of joy as far as this team right now is concerned it feels very much like a lot of the moves that they have made it has worked out from the extension to brandon fought which looked like it was a very bad move at one point to stuff like this bringing on nolan aranado to not only be an amazing defender over at third base which was the primary reason for adding him to this team but to see a resurgence in his offensive production i still can't help but think of the fact that the very first time that nolan aranado met with media he told us during the offseason

that he had already sent video to the diamondbacks coaching staff of his of his batting stance to start to try to figure out what was wrong it's not to say that st louis Cardinals, which is a very distinguished organization, very well-respected, you know, that their coaching staff is so bad that they couldn't figure it out. Sometimes in life, though, it's just about having another set of eyes look at a problem that you feel like needs addressed, needs to be addressed. And in this case, it feels like whatever improvements, whatever changes Arnado has made, has helped considerably. So I'm just thankful that it's happened,

and I'm thankful that Unx still got it. Love that. But it was a big night offensively for so many players on this team. Corbyn Carroll has his lead league leading 15th triple of the year, and I still think he's more than double the closest next batter when it comes to triples there. He was two for three tonight with a run scored and two walks. Really feel like Carol's starting to put it together.

But another guy that you just can't say enough about was Gabby Moreno. He got the scoring started there in the first inning. The Diamondbacks put up three, or excuse me, out in the first inning in the second inning. But the diamondbacks put up three big runs there in the second. And then they keep their foot on the gas and come out and score three more in the third inning. Started with a Corby and Carroll double is the, the, other extra base hit of the night he had. He had a double and a triple for his two hits.

Heraldo Pardomo recorded an out, and then Moreno added an RBI double that scored Carroll and made the score four to two at the time. Then with two outs, Nolan Aronado hit the first of his two home runs. That one was a two run bomb that made the score six to two. In the seventh inning, he would add another home run that time, a solo shot in the seventh inning that made the score seven, excuse me, a 62 before, seven to two after his second home run. That one had a 99.5 mile per hour exit below and a 387 foot distance. And then again, this one turns into a blowout in the top of the ninth inning with two on after Gabrielle Moreno gets on with a leadoff single.

And Nolan Aronado has a one out walk. You got Ildamaro Vargas hitting a two. two out home run, his eighth of the season to push the lead to 10 to 2. And the Diamondbacks turn what was originally looking like perhaps a bad night for them after one inning into a laugher after nine innings, winning this one by a score of 10 to 3. Vargas's home run was a drive to left center field that went 100, excuse me, 403 feet and had an exit below of 105.4 miles per hour. Vargie did not miss. that one. This offense is clicking.

They got just major contributions all over the place. Aronado two for four, Tawa two for five with an RBI and a run scored. Ildemarro Vargas adds that home run. He was one for five with three RBI. Waldschmidt one for four with a walk and a lot of extra base hits. You got Kepler with a double, Carol with a double, Carol with a double, Carol also had that triple and then home runs, two home runs from Aronado. that home run from Vargas.

Huge night for this team, huge night for this offense. They went five for 12 with runners in scoring position and even with scoring 10 runs they left nine men on base. I'm not going to shout about that this time. But what I am going to shout about is the Diamondbacks taking

this series from the Atlanta Braves. They now improved to 66 and 58 and more importantly they kind of own the Braves lately. Once again dating back to April 27th of last year, they are now eight and two. in their last 10 games versus Atlanta. And the debacks have 21 wins since July 9th,

which is tied for second most in the majors right now with a few teams. One of those teams is no longer the Padres, who lost tonight. In fact, the only team that they're still tied with is the Tampa Bay race, I believe, and they are still behind the Red Sox. They have just been playing some incredible baseball. And again, the Padres lost tonight. The Phillies did win. Other teams we would like to see also won.

And the St. Louis Cardinals might have added baseball Jesus to their team. Because my God, what a debut tonight for one Joshua Baez, who homered three times in his first three at bats in his major league debut for the St. Louis Cardinals. Incredible. And I only bring that up. Because just the other day when we were covering Friday's game, we were hanging out at P.HNXHQ, myself, Damon, and one Kevin Thomas, known St. Louis fan and known traitor to the entire city of Phoenix. And Kevin Thomas proceeded to tell me and Damon how baseball Jesus had been called up. And that was Joshua Baez.

And that was, that's, that's, that's a tall, that's a tall nickname to fill. but after seeing one game, I think I'm ready to crown him. So Diamondbacks, again, they have to win all the games they can as they continue to be in a very tight race. And again, not a lot of space between them and those other teams. The Reds, Pirates, Nationals, I feel like they've all fallen out. It really truly is, you know, at the bare minimum, a three-team race with the Diamondbacks, Padres, and Philly.

all being tied with records of 66 and 58. But the Marlins and the Cardinals are not that far out of it either. The Marlins sit at 63 and 61 and are three games back, while the St. Louis Cardinals are 62 and 61, and they sit at three and a half games back. The last thing the debacks can do right now is take their foot off the gas because everyone around them has been playing very good baseball, as have the Diamondbacks.

So credit to them, hats off to them. They continue to be road warriors lately. They are one game under 500 on the road on the season. And so far during this particular stretch, they are now 12 and 4 in their last 16 road games. Good stuff, man. Good stuff from this team. And honestly, again, I have not even given enough credit or flowers to Eduardo Rodriguez for turning this game and having the outing he had after a shaky start.

He gave the Diamondbacks tonight, six innings pitched, five hits allowed, two earned runs that all came in the first inning, no walks, and 5K. But let's also give flowers to this bullpen that once again recorded another scoreless, no, not scoreless outing, I'm sorry, Philip Abner did give up a run late. And even though Philip Abner has a 6.28 ERA and has not been playing, obviously, the biggest role right now in this team. What he is right now is a placeholder for Justin Martinez, and he is also been eating some innings innings in some of these blowout games where the Diamondbacks do at least have enough of a lead that you feel comfortable with Abner being out there. But Loisigua and Ginkle both gave them clean innings, one inning pitched each zeros across the board otherwise. So this is a good team right now, guys, and this is a team that's heating up.

This is a team that's getting better, and this is a team that is adding depth and reinforcements here shortly. Feels like Jordan Lawler and Justin Martinez will both be added to this roster by either the end of this weekend or in Boston. While there's no rush to add them, it would be great. to get those guys back into a major league lineup. And, you know, with J-Mart's case facing major-league pitching, and in Lawler's case, getting some reps there against Major League. Did I say pitching? I'm sometimes confused these things.

Major League hitting for J-Mart, Major League pitching there for Loller. Overall, though, the Diamondbacks sit at 66 and 58. They once again are eight games above 500, which ties a season high. should they complete the S word on Sunday, which seems very improbable, however not unlikely, doesn't seem like it's out of the question, then they could finally, they could reach a season high nine games over, you know, 500. And again, that's, this is a very good time to be playing good baseball. These are very good teams to be playing this baseball against. This was a dominant win.

This wasn't just a squeaker like game one. Game one was more about Brandon Fott and the bullpen carrying this team to a scoreless outing, to a scoreless win. Tonight, the offense repaid the favor by dominating the Braves, hitting three home runs, multiple extra base hits, 13 hits overall, 10 runs on the board, and still leaving some meat on the bone. nine runners left on base, five for 12, the runners in scoring position. Definitely not a perfect night, but a much better night than we've seen out of this offense over the last week, it feels like. So again, a lot of things to be positive about, and we will continue to be here covering this team for you guys. So make sure, of course, to keep it locked right here to PHNX. You can follow me on socials.

As always, I am at Kapp underscore Caveman with a Gay. Our show is at PHNX underscore DBAX, but as always, Rhodesley to at P H&X underscore Sports on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Thank you guys so much for your time. We'll be back with another D-Backs After Dark on Sunday and be back with a live show on Monday at 12 p.m. And you know what it is. It's a mailbag Monday.

So make sure to send us your questions for that as well. Until then, hope you guys have a wonderful rest of your weekend. I hope the snakes can pull off the S-word on Sunday. And remember, kids, baseball is fun, but it is so much more fun when you can prove that you in fact are the second best team in baseball.