'I’m a little bit important': Diamondbacks find boost from injured infielder — and Suarez

DENVER — For as good as it must feel to hit a go-ahead home run, that was not entirely the case for the Diamondbacks’ Geraldo Perdomo on June 21.

His swings these days, even the good ones, generate the opposite sensation — pain in his right hand — and his two-run, tiebreaking shot in a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field was no exception.

“Oh, yeah, definitely,” Perdomo said. “I feel it on every swing.”

In this case, the pain was worth it. In winning for the second time in as many nights, the Diamondbacks secured a series victory — the bare minimum when facing a team as inept as the Rockies. They will look to secure a sweep in the series finale on June 22 — a sort of requisite to keep from losing ground in the National League playoff race.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, Jun 21, 2025, in Denver, Colorado.

Ketel Marte had four hits, including a pair of doubles. Eugenio Suarez hit his third homer in two days. Right-hander Merrill Kelly worked six-plus innings and three Diamondbacks relievers worked an inning apiece to preserve the win.

And then there was Perdomo, whose home run in the fifth inning was just his second in the past month.

A little more than two weeks ago, on the play that ended the Diamondbacks’ miraculous comeback win over the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park, Perdomo fielded a grounder off the bat of Marcell Ozuna. The ball took a quick hop and jammed his right middle finger. It has not felt the same since.

Perdomo said he feels discomfort every time he swings the bat from either side of the plate. He said it also hurts when he makes throws from shortstop. But he said he feels a responsibility to play through the pain.

“I feel like this team needs me,” Perdomo said. “I’m not trying to be cocky, but I don’t feel like we can play our best baseball without me. I feel like I’m a little bit important for this team. That’s why I don’t want to take time off.”

Perdomo said X-rays taken during the previous homestand came back negative. He was told he likely suffered a strain and that, in time, it would eventually heal. In the meantime, he is trying to remain productive. It has not been easy.

In 14 games since the injury, Perdomo is 11 for 55 (.200) with five extra-base hits and seven walks. He has a .281 on-base and a .382 slugging.

“It hasn’t hindered him defensively and I think the at-bats have been solid, but I think he spoiled us in the first month of the year with some really good offense,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.

"“Is it (the recent slump) connected? It might be. But he’s going to find his way.”

Said Perdomo: “I told him (Lovullo), ‘When I can’t play, that’s the day you can take me out of the lineup.’ But for right now, I feel like I can play with this. I’ve got to deal with it. It sucks because I feel like it’s been hurting my performance a little bit because I feel like I can’t get comfortable hitting. But it’s all right. I’m going to figure out a way to get back.”

For a night, at least, he figured it out against the Rockies. In addition to his homer — a shot to right off reliever Jimmy Herget that went an estimated 401 feet — he also had a bunt single and drew a walk.

As for Marte, the evening went down as his latest monster performance. He has 10 hits over his past three games, including five doubles and a homer. The past two games have come in a venue that has a checkered history for him.

Like most hitters, Marte has swung the bat well at Coors Field. But at least three times in his career, he has left Denver with injuries to his hamstrings. It has left him feeling as if he has little choice but to proceed with caution during his visits here, a conservative mindset that includes pushing for both DH days and days off in Colorado.

Lovullo said Marte will be out of the lineup for this reason in the series finale.

“We’ve got to be smart,” Marte said. “I know (Lovullo) wants me to play over there, but we’ve got to be smart. Give me one day, maybe pinch hit late in the game. That would be awesome for me and my body.”

The Diamondbacks bullpen also turned in an impressive performance. Right-hander Ryan Thompson entered with two on and nobody out in the seventh and proceeded to pick off the Rockies’ Mickey Moniak at second before retiring the next two batters to end the inning.

Lefty Jalen Beeks worked a scoreless eighth and right-hander Shelby Miller struck out the side in the ninth after Ryan McMahon led off the inning with a bunt single.

A.J. Puk undergoes internal brace procedure

Left-hander A.J. Puk did not require a full Tommy John reconstruction on his left elbow, manager Torey Lovullo said, a small bit of good news that should aid his timeline to return next season.

Puk, who had surgery on Friday, June 20, had his ulnar collateral ligament repaired with an internal brace procedure.

Tommy John surgery involves harvesting a tendon from elsewhere in the body for it to serve as the new ligament. The internal brace procedure is more of a repair of the existing ligament.

Tommy John comes with a recovery timeline of roughly 18 months, while pitchers who have had the internal brace tend to return to the mound closer to the 12-month mark.

“Hopefully it’s a bit sooner than later,” Lovullo said.

Puk, who entered the season as one of the Diamondbacks’ top relievers, will be arbitration-eligible for one more season before potentially hitting free agency after the 2026 season.

Carroll getting another day; Marte could sit in finale

Right fielder Corbin Carroll was out of the lineup for a third consecutive game, but manager Torey Lovullo seemed hopeful that he could get back in action for the series finale against the Rockies on Sunday, June 22.

“We’ll categorize him as day to day,” Lovullo said of Carroll. “He’s as good as we have when it comes to knowing his body. When he says he’s getting close, I trust him.”

If Carroll could play in the finale, that would line up well, considering Lovullo is likely to give second baseman Ketel Marte the day off. For years, Marte has asked to be used conservatively during trips to Coors Field, where he has sustained multiple hamstring injuries during his career.

“Yeah, they’re two of our best players, so if one is subbing out, you’d like to sub one in,” Lovullo said. “Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out. The design is to get Ketel off his feet tomorrow.”

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'I’m a little bit important': Diamondbacks find boost from injured infielder — and Suarez