After losing five of their last six games, including their last three, the Arizona Diamondbacks got back on track with a 5-2 road win against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.

Eduardo Rodríguez walked three batters and threw 40 pitches in the first inning alone, which pretty much set the tone for what we had in store from him as he then surrendered a solo home run to Noelvi Marte in the second inning.

He didn’t make it to three innings pitched and finished his night giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits (one home run) with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings, but his five walks and 85 pitches doomed him.

He also had a rough outing against the Washington Nationals on Saturday, when he allowed four runs on six hits (two home runs) with six strikeouts and a walk in 6.1 innings.

Rodríguez was hit very hard that time, too, so a pattern might be developing. The concerning part is that he was hit hard and was all over the place tonight. That lack of control is not a good sign moving forward.

Reds starter Nick Lodolo lost control in the second but escaped a bases loaded jam giving up just a run. He was cruising until the sixth inning, when he allowed another run after a LuJames Groover single.

Lodolo gave up two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and a walk in 5.1 innings but he left with the game tied after throwing 96 pitches.

He’s now thrown at least five innings in six of his seven starts this season.

Lodolo allowed four runs on 10 hits (one home run) with three strikeouts and a walk in five innings to get a no-decision in a 6-5 road loss against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, so there was some improvement. The problem was that Arizona made him work for his outs and getting to 5.1 innings took a lot out of him.

The game was then in the hands of the bullpens, who were in control until the Diamondbacks exploded for three runs against Brock Burke in the top of the ninth inning, capped off by a Jordan Lawlar two-run single. 

Lawlar went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored in his first game back after being in the 60-day Injured List because of a right wrist fracture.

Kevin Ginkel got the win for Arizona after throwing a scoreless eighth inning and Paul Sewald recorded his 16th save of the season after pitching a perfect ninth inning. Burke took the loss for the `Reds after giving up three unearned runs on one hit with two walks in an inning of work.

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