Montgomery throws 7 solid innings and Diamondbacks hold off Reds 4-3. Cincy's skid now 7 games.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Jordan Montgomery allowed two runs through seven innings, Eugenio Suárez homered and the Arizona Diamondbacks held on to beat Cincinnati 4-3 on Wednesday night, extending the Reds skid to a season-high seven straight.

The Diamondbacks won their third in a row and got another solid outing from a starting pitcher. Montgomery (2-2) scattered seven hits, struck out two and walked two. On Tuesday night, Zac Gallen threw six shutout innings as the Diamondbacks took the first game of the series.

Montgomery bounced back from an awful start May 1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in which he gave up six runs in three innings.

“After the way it went for the Dodgers, I just had to get back out there,” he said. “It was good to get back out there and have better results.”

Christian Walker, Gabriel Moreno and Pavin Smith also drove in runs for Arizona to keep Cincinnati winless in the month of May.

“I think these are good games for us to win," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "We have to win one-run games. We have to learn how to execute at critical points in the game and expect to have this type of outcome.”

Reds starter Graham Ashcraft (3-2) allowed three runs and six hits through five innings, striking out two and walking three.

Ashcraft exited with two runners on and no outs in the sixth and the score tied at 2. Moreno singled home the go-ahead run before reliever Fernando Cruz worked out of the jam.

Suárez gave the Diamondbacks some breathing room with a two-out homer to center off Lucas Sims in the eighth.

TJ Friedl's single in the ninth cut Arizona's lead to 4-3. With one out and two runners on, reliever Joe Mantiply struck out pinch-hitter Will Benson and induced a fly ball to right from Jonathan India to seal it and earn his first save.

Stuart Fairchild and Jeimer Candelario also drove in runs for Cincinnati. Elly De La Cruz stole two bases to extend his major-league leading total to 21.

“We’re really close,” Reds manager David Bell said. “You know it might now seem like that, but I know from being in the clubhouse and our dugout around our guys every day all day long, we’re super close. We just have to trust what we’re doing, and we’ll break through.”

TRAINER'S ROOM

Reds: Put IB Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) on the 10-day disabled list. Mike Ford, a 31-year-old journeyman first baseman, was signed to a one-year major league contract to take his spot on the roster. ... Put LHP Bandon Williamson (left shoulder strain) on the 60-day disabled list.

UP NEXT

The Diamondbacks will go for a sweep when they send right-hander Slade Cecconi (1-2, 4.96) against Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (1-2, 3.12 ERA) on Thursday afternoon.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Spencer Steer looks to catch a line drive hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan India rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft throws to an Arizona Diamonbacks batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Santiago Espinal catches a popup hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft throws to an Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery throws to a Cincinnati Reds batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

MIAMI (AP) — Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor each drove in two runs in a four-run first inning, star closer Edwin Díaz was not used in a save situation and the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 7-3 on Sunday for just their second win in seven games.

Brandon Nimmo homered and Francisco Lindor singled twice following a 1-for-27 skid as the Mets rebounded from blowing a four-run, ninth-inning lead on Saturday and avoided a three-game sweep. New York stopped Miami’s four-game winning streak.

“You’re not defined by what you do the day before. You’re defined by how you get up from adversity,” Lindor said. “We wanted this one for sure. I think it’s important to win after a tough loss like that.”

Sean Manaea (3-1) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. Sean Reid-Foley and Jake Diekman pitched an inning each, and Reed Garrett got his second save by allowing one hit over two innings with four strikeouts in a 34-pitch outing.

Díaz has a 10.80 ERA over his last eight appearances after serving up four homers in 8 1/3 innings. He has blown three of his last four save chances.

“We all believe in him. We all know he’s going to be back,” Garrett said. “Whenever my name’s called, I’ll pitch, but I know as a collective unit we all believe in Edwin and we know what he can do.”

New York (21-25) had dropped five games under .500 on Saturday for the first time since an 0-5 start.

“Not an easy weekend, not the way we expected, but we just have to continue to move forward,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Today was a huge win for us.”

With New York ahead 4-3, Nimmo hit a two-run homer off Anthony Bender in a three-run ninth that included Brett Baty’s RBI single.

“I was just looking for a good pitch in the middle of the plate to drive,” Nimmo said. “I was able to hit that ball — good launch angle — and hit it hard. Found its way out of the ballpark.”

Nimmo returned to the lineup Saturday after missing two games because of a stomach illness.

“I’m coming around,” Nimmo said. “It’s been a little bit of a journey the last three days to get over the sickness. Right now, I’m just trying to get some appetite back. I’m definitely not at 100%. Just trying to battle through it and glad that I was able to help out there at the end and solidify the win.”

Dane Myers hit a two-run homer in the second, and Christian Bethancourt had a solo drive in the seventh against DIekman.

Sixto Sánchez (0-2) allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. He gave up Taylor’s two-out double in the first and Bader’s single.

“He was obviously better second through the fourth inning but he put us in a hole early,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “At this level it’s hard to come back from four runs every single time. He’s not giving his teammates a chance to win.”

Miami recalled right-handed reliever Emmanuel Ramirez from Jacksonville and optioned right-handed reliever Anthony Maldonado to the Triple-A farm team.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: DH J.D. Martinez (flu symptoms) didn’t play but was available to pinch hit. Mendoza said Martinez played through the illness the prior two days.

Marlins: INF Tim Anderson (lower back tightness) homered and had three singles in five at-bats during a rehab game with Jacksonville on Saturday, then went 0 for 4 with a walk on Sunday.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (0-1, 2.25) will start the opener of a three-game series at Cleveland on Monday. RHP Ben Lively (2-2, 3.06) will start for the Guardians.

Marlins: LHP Ryan Weathers (2-4, 3.81) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game home series against Milwaukee on Monday. The Brewers will go with RHP Joe Ross (2-4, 4.61).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Sean Manaea delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo (9) and Francisco Lindor (12) congratulate each other after they scored on a double by Tyrone Taylor, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader is unable to catch a ball hit by Miami Marlins' Josh Bell for a double, during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Miami Marlins third base Emmanuel Rivera, right, tags out New York Mets' Harrison Bader as he slides into third base during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader (44) catches a ball hit by Miami Marlins' Josh Bell as both he and left fielder Tyrone Taylor (15) vie for the ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett, right, and catcher Omar Narvaez celebrate after the Mets beat the Miami Marlins 7-3, during a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)