Rodriguez Dominates as D-backs Cruise Past Mets in Lopsided Sunday Affair

The Arizona Diamondbacks dismantled the New York Mets on Sunday at Chase Field, cruising to a 5-1 victory that was never in doubt after the second inning. This wasn’t a game decided by dramatic moments or late-inning heroics. This was simply superior baseball executed by a team firing on all cylinders while their opponent managed to limp through nine innings like a car running on fumes.

Rodriguez Was Untouchable

Eduardo Rodriguez was the story here, and rightfully so. The D-backs starter pitched 8.1 innings of pristine baseball, scattering just four hits while walking three and striking out four. He wanted the ball in the ninth inning, according to reports, and you know what? That’s the kind of competitive fire that wins ballgames. Rodriguez didn’t dazzle with overwhelming velocity, but he painted corners like a craftsman and kept the Mets hitters completely off balance. Four strikeouts might not jump off the page, but watch the highlights and you’ll see a pitcher who was in complete control.

This was Rodriguez’s longest career outing, and he made every pitch count. The Mets’ offense, such as it was, managed just one run across nine innings. That’s the kind of pitching performance that ends up in highlight reels for years to come.

Waldschmidt Carries the Load

If Rodriguez was the pitcher, Ryan Waldschmidt was the hitter who put this game away early. The D-backs outfielder went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run double in the second inning that immediately put Arizona in the driver’s seat. He added an RBI single in the sixth for good measure. In baseball, you want your role players delivering in big moments, and Waldschmidt did exactly that on Sunday. This wasn’t a fluke performance either. He was locked in all day.

Ketel Marte also contributed with a two-run triple in the sixth inning that essentially put the game into permanent blowout territory. The Diamondbacks’ lineup showed patience and discipline, working counts and capitalizing when pitches were left over the plate. By contrast, the Mets looked like they were swinging at everything.

The Mets’ Misery Begins Early

The real culprit here wasn’t Rodriguez. It was Huascar Brazobán, who managed to get just one inning pitched while allowing two runs on no hits. Yes, you read that correctly. Two runs without a hit in one inning of work. Brazobán’s 3 walks in that single inning told you everything you needed to know about the Mets’ preparation and execution on Sunday. This wasn’t a pitching disaster. This was a disaster that started with poor mechanics and poor command from the jump.

Luis Torrens drove in the Mets’ lone run with an RBI double in the sixth, but by then the game had already been decided for several innings. You can’t expect to win ballgames when your starter can’t record three outs without imploding. That’s not baseball. That’s malpractice.

The Diamondbacks proved on Sunday that they’re capable of winning games with solid pitching and timely hitting. The Mets proved they’re capable of losing them just as easily with early incompetence. This was the difference between a team clicking and a team sputtering. Arizona showed up ready to play. New York showed up and got humiliated. That’s the bottom line.