Eduardo Rodriguez strikes out 9 in 7 innings as Diamondbacks beat Cubs 2-0

PHOENIX (AP) — Eduardo Rodriguez struck out nine in seven innings, Jordan Lawlar homered and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago Cubs 2-0 on Wednesday.

Rodriguez (14-4) outpitched Cubs starter Matthew Boyd (8-3), allowing two hits to win his fourth straight start. Relievers Brandyn Garcia and Juan Morillo completed the two-hitter, with Morillo earning his second save.

The Cubs, who occupy the top NL wild-card spot, have lost five of seven.

Lawlar led off the sixth inning with his third homer for the only run against Boyd, who allowed three hits with five strikeouts and two walks in six innings.

Ryan Waldschmidt had a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Rodriguez tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings against Cincinnati in his last start and didn't allow a hit against the Cubs until Tyrone Taylor's bloop single to lead off the fifth inning

Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the sixth with a double and moved to third with one out, but Rodriguez stranded him there — after a bit of controversy.

With two outs, Crow-Armstrong moved way down the line as if he were stealing home and Rodriguez threw a quick pitch, forcing him back. Crow-Armstrong was adamant that Rodriguez balked and had to be restrained by third base coach Quintin Berry after the umpiring crew discussed the play and concluded that Rodriguez did not balk.

Boyd was sharp early against the Diamondbacks after allowing 11 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings his previous two starts.

The left-hander erased walks with inning-ending double plays in the second and third, and Taylor cut down Nolan Arenado at second from deep in the left-field corner in the fourth.

Cubs LHP David Peterson (7-7 5.17 ERA) will pitch the opener of a three-game series against visiting Cincinnati on Friday. Arizona had yet to name a starter for Thursday's opener of a four-game series at San Francisco.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong, center, and Cubs third base coach Quintin Berry (0) argue with umpire Lance Barrett during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, right, argues with home plate umpire Alfonso Márquez during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar, right, celebrates his home run as he runs past Chicago Cubs third baseman Pedro Ramírez, left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez throws against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

ATLANTA (AP) — Players who leave the NFL to return to college won't be allowed to come back to the league this season.

NFL executive Troy Vincent reiterated the longstanding policy at the league's meetings Wednesday, saying players who go back to college will be ineligible to play in 2026. Vincent said any player who does that would instead become a free agent for the 2027 season.

The comments came one day after the Southeastern and Big Ten conferences banned players who were on NFL rosters from being able to play at their schools. Atlantic Coast and Big 12 conference leaders were also discussing the topic this week.

At least two players who signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents this offseason were hoping to return to college and play at No. 11 LSU.

Tight end Dae'Quan Wright originally signed with Philadelphia as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi following the draft. He was waived by the Eagles on Aug. 10 and claimed by Cleveland the following day. He spent about two weeks with the Browns without playing in an exhibition game before being waived on Monday. He cleared waivers Tuesday and now wants to go to LSU to play for his former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin.

Defensive lineman Zxavian Harris signed with New Orleans in May as an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss and participated in the offseason program. He was placed on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp in July and was waived Aug. 8. He wasn't claimed by any team and also wants to go back to college to play for Kiffin.

Both players entered the NFL draft because they had used up their four years of eligibility. The NCAA announced a rule change in June allowing players who began college in 2023 or later to have five years to play five years of sports in college.

That rule didn't apply to Wright and Harris, who entered college in 2022 but they are among the players who have sued the NCAA, arguing they’re being deprived of education and potential NIL financial benefits by being excluded from the rule.

Cal football general manager Ron Rivera said Wednesday he hopes the ACC joins the Big Ten and SEC in turning away former pros.

“I think when somebody makes a decision, goes in a certain direction, I think they’ve made their decision,” said Rivera, a former NFL player and coach. “I’m disappointed that people are looking for ways to cheat the system or beat the system.”

In Tennessee, the state's Court of Appeals granted the NCAA’s motion that puts on hold an order that would have given former Vanderbilt player Jalen Washington and 18 other basketball players a fifth year of eligibility.

The ruling gives the NCAA a win in ongoing litigation across the nation in federal and state courts involving college athletes who contend they should get a fifth year of competition under revised NCAA eligibility rules adopted in June.

Washington, who transferred to Tennessee, and the other plaintiffs are now ineligible pending resolution of the NCAA’s appeal of the lower court’s ruling.

Washington was the lead plaintiff in a complaint filed July 6 by the Texas Trial Group seeking the injunction. Others included Chendall Weaver, last at Texas; A.J. Storr of Mississippi; Jason Edwards of Providence; and Daniel Egbuniwe of St. Bonaventure.

The NCAA also has won stays of injunctions in Ohio and New Jersey state courts and in a federal court in Colorado.

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Troy Vincent speaks during a news conference at an NFL football owners meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Cleveland Browns tight end Dae'Quan Wright warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)