Diamondbacks Pitcher Soroka Impresses in Win Over Braves

Soroka's strong outing, Sewald's clutch save, and Lovullo's comments on the team's hitting approach highlight the latest Diamondbacks news.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:39pm

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In the latest Arizona Diamondbacks news, pitcher Michael Soroka gave another impressive performance in a win over the Atlanta Braves, with catcher Gabriel Moreno and Soroka making good pitch decisions. Reliever Paul Sewald also earned a clutch save after a previous loss, while manager Torey Lovullo discussed the team's need to be more selective at the plate and avoid chasing pitches out of the strike zone.

Why it matters

The Diamondbacks are looking to build on their strong start to the season, and Soroka's continued development as a starting pitcher, along with the bullpen's ability to bounce back, will be key factors in their success. Lovullo's comments also highlight an area the team needs to improve in order to be more consistent offensively.

The details

Soroka pitched well, competing as best he could despite not having everything working perfectly. He and catcher Gabriel Moreno made good pitch decisions, especially with runners in scoring position, and let the defense work behind them to earn the win. Reliever Paul Sewald, who took a loss in a previous outing, quickly flushed that by going through his normal routine and then earning a clutch save for Soroka. Manager Torey Lovullo noted the team's high chase rate, urging the hitters to be more selective and wait for their pitch rather than trying to do too much.

  • On April 5, 2026, the Diamondbacks defeated the Braves.

The players

Michael Soroka

A Diamondbacks pitcher who gave another strong outing in the win over the Braves, competing well despite not having everything working perfectly.

Gabriel Moreno

The Diamondbacks catcher who worked well with Soroka, making good pitch decisions especially with runners in scoring position.

Paul Sewald

A Diamondbacks reliever who earned a clutch save after taking a loss in a previous outing, quickly flushing that by going through his normal routine.

Torey Lovullo

The Diamondbacks manager who discussed the team's need to be more selective at the plate and avoid chasing pitches out of the strike zone.

Mike Hazen

The Diamondbacks general manager who expressed frustration over the injury to top prospect Jordan Lawlar, who is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured wrist.

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What they’re saying

“I think we fell behind a little more than we would have liked, but (catcher Gabriel Moreno) and I made some good decisions with some pitches late in counts, good pitches with guys in scoring position, let the defense work and got the win.”

— Michael Soroka, Diamondbacks Pitcher

“If I had struck out the side, I would have done the same thing. And so, you just go home and I had dinner and watched a movie, and then we came back today, and, like I said, the easiest way to flush it is just to pitch right away.”

— Paul Sewald, Diamondbacks Reliever

“Our chase rate is extremely high right now. If we zone in, try not to do too much, wait for our pitch, it's the art of hitting and the beauty of baseball. When you do it, it's sweet music. When you chase, you get yourself into bad counts. Pitchers have nasty stuff. You've got to slow the game down, swing at strikes, see the baseball, understand what the at-bat is asking for. That's the simplicity of hitting for me. We're a little bit anxious trying to do too much, in my opinion.”

— Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks Manager

“It's frustrating. I'm sure he's frustrated more than we are. He looked great. He was doing a really good job in the outfield, and he was having great at-bats. We're going to miss him, but we'll keep the train going until he comes back.”

— Mike Hazen, Diamondbacks General Manager

What’s next

The Diamondbacks will look to build on this win as they continue their season, hoping to see their hitters become more selective at the plate and their pitching staff continue to perform well.

The takeaway

The Diamondbacks are off to a strong start, but they know they need to improve their plate discipline and avoid chasing pitches out of the strike zone in order to be more consistent offensively. The development of young pitchers like Soroka, along with the resilience of the bullpen, will also be key factors in their success this season.