Diamondbacks score 4 in 8th to beat Guardians 4-1 and move into second in NL wild-card race

CLEVELAND (AP) — Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno had back-to-back RBI singles off Erik Sabrowski in a four-run eighth inning, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night.

Ketel Marte also singled home a run in the eighth as the Diamondbacks won their third straight game and moved into sole possession of the second wild-card spot in the National League. Arizona, which didn’t advance a runner past second base in the first seven innings, is an NL-best 13-5 since July 9.

Jonathan Loaisiga (3-3) pitched a scoreless seventh for the win. Brandyn Garcia worked the ninth for his third save, wrapping up a combined three-hitter that began with rookie Mitch Bratt throwing five innings.

Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (4-11) allowed two runs and three hits in 7 1/3 innings. Sabrowski entered with two runners aboard and issued a walk to Corbin Carroll before Perdomo and Moreno both delivered.

Carroll scored on Moreno's base hit when right fielder Angel Martínez committed a fielding error.

Rhys Hoskins gave Cleveland a 1-0 lead in the first, lining the ball off the wall in left field for a single that scored José Ramírez. It snapped an 0-for-15 stretch for the cleanup hitter, who has a .135 batting average since June 4.

Cleveland managed only two hits in the final eight innings, both by Steven Kwan, in losing for the seventh time in nine games. The Guardians remain in possession of the third and final American League wild card.

Moreno extended his on-base streak to 27 games and has reached safely in a franchise-record 46 consecutive starts.

Bratt made his fifth appearance, giving up one run and three hits.

Diamondbacks LHP Kohl Drake (0-0, 5.00 ERA) faces Guardians LHP Parker Messick (8-6, 2.59) in the second game of the series.

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

Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez, right, steals second base on Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, left, in the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Tanner Bibee pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Cleveland, Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo (2) is congratulated in the dugout after scoring in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielders Corbin Carroll (7), Max Kepler (22) and Jorge Barrosa (1) run in from the outfield after the Diamondbacks defeated the Guardians in a baseball game in Cleveland, Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, left, and pitcher Brandyn Garcia (55) celebrate after the Diamondbacks defeated the Guardians in a baseball game in Cleveland, Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

TORONTO (AP) — Pinch-hitter Luis Urías broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-run single and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 on Friday night.

Cardinals reliever Peter Strzelecki (0-1) exited after one-out walks to George Springer and Daulton Varsho. Gordon Graceffo came on and walked Ernie Clement to load the bases for Urías, who grounded a two-run single through the left side.

Jeff Hoffman (6-7) worked one inning for the win and Louis Varland finished for his 24th save in 24 opportunities as Toronto extended its winning streak over St. Louis to seven games.

The Blue Jays have won five of their past eight games after losing the previous four.

St. Louis lost for the fifth time in six games. The Cardinals went 10-18 in July.

Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single off Dylan Cease in the fifth.

The Blue Jays tied it in the sixth when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto started the inning with back-to-back doubles.

Cease allowed one run and three hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out seven.

Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy permitted one run and six hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out three.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the seventh but Strzelecki got Guerrero to ground into a double play.

Brandon Valenzuela had three of Toronto’s nine hits.

Cardinals LHP Quinn Matthews is expected to make his major league debut Saturday against Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (4-10, 4.51 ERA).

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

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Leahy (62) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Toronto, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease (84) works against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Toronto, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker watches his RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Nathan Church makes a diving catch on a ball hit by Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement (22) during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates after hitting a double against the St. Louis Cardinals during sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Toronto, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)