Diamondbacks 6, Brewers 2: Nolan Arenado Blast Flips the Game

The lead

April 29, 2026 - Milwaukee - The Arizona Diamondbacks trailed early, waited for one mistake, and then changed the game with power. Nolan Arenado hit a 411-foot three-run homer in the fourth inning, and Arizona beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2 to even the series.

The Diamondbacks hit four home runs: solo shots from Adrian Del Castillo, Ketel Marte, and Corbin Carroll, plus Arenado's go-ahead blast. Ildemaro Vargas added two hits and extended his season-opening hitting streak to 22 games, and his overall streak to 25 games dating back to last season.

How the game turned

Milwaukee had the first two answers. Brice Turang doubled in the first and scored on Jake Bauers' double. In the third, Brandon Lockridge opened with a bunt single and Turang doubled again to make it 2-0.

Arizona's fourth inning flipped everything. Del Castillo cut the lead in half with a solo homer. Vargas and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. followed with consecutive singles. That brought up Arenado, who got an 0-1 pitch from Brandon Sproat and drove it 411 feet to left-center. In one inning, the Diamondbacks went from chasing the game to leading 4-2.

The Brewers threatened in the bottom half. Luis Rengifo doubled, Milwaukee loaded the bases with two outs, and Eduardo Rodriguez had to face Turang again. Rodriguez got a bouncer to first to end the inning, preserving the two-run lead. After that, Arizona's bullpen took over.

Pitching and matchup notes

Rodriguez did not have a clean start, but he kept the game manageable. He allowed two runs on five hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings while striking out four. Kevin Ginkel earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Juan Morillo, Taylor Clarke, and Paul Sewald each followed with a scoreless inning.

The bullpen finish was the quiet reason Arizona won comfortably. After Milwaukee loaded the bases in the fourth, the Brewers did not score again. Field Level Media noted that the Diamondbacks' relief group retired 13 straight hitters to close the game.

Sproat took the loss for Milwaukee. He allowed four runs and two homers, with Del Castillo and Arenado doing the damage in the fourth. The Brewers' offense had early contact, especially from Turang, but the middle innings dried up.

Bats that changed the board

Arenado's swing was the obvious separator, but Vargas' hit streak deserves a bigger note. His second-inning single extended a club-record season-opening streak to 22 games, and his overall 25-game run tied Joe Torre for the third-longest season-opening streak in the majors since 1940, according to Field Level Media.

Arizona's power depth also stood out. Del Castillo's homer made the game reachable. Arenado's made it Arizona's game. Marte and Carroll went back-to-back in the ninth to remove any last late-inning tension.

For Milwaukee, Turang was the best offensive piece. He doubled twice early and drove in a run, but the Brewers did not get the follow-up hit after the fourth-inning bases-loaded chance.

AthX Engine fantasy angle

Arizona finished fourth on the Apr. 29 AthX Engine team board with 13 team FP. Arenado posted 9 AthX Engine hitting FP, making him one of the top 10 hitters on the slate. The Diamondbacks' team score was held below the blowouts, but the quality of their fantasy output was clear: four homers, a comeback, and a clean bullpen finish.

AthX Engine daily scoring is separate from dynamic pricing. Still, this game gives traders a useful signal because Arizona's production came from established lineup pieces and the bullpen finished the job without drama.

What comes next

Arizona and Milwaukee close the series Thursday. The Diamondbacks got exactly the kind of response teams need after falling behind early on the road. The Brewers had the first punch and enough traffic to make this competitive, but Arenado's fourth-inning swing changed the whole shape of the night.

*Sources: MLB.com schedule, MLB Gameday, ESPN coverage, Field Level Media/Yardbarker coverage, Sports Illustrated Diamondbacks coverage, and AthX Engine scoring. Information only; not financial advice.*