Perdomo, D-backs walk off to go above .500

PHOENIX -- For the first time since April 3, the D-backs are above the .500 mark.

Arizona has been at .500 six times since that day, and each time it fell below it the next day, but Friday night, it finally got over the hump with a come-from-behind, 5-4, ninth-inning walk-off win over the Blue Jays at Chase Field.

With two more games until the All-Star break and a three-game winning streak, the D-backs are starting to think, for the first time this season, they may be able to gain some traction and put together a prolonged stretch of winning.

“I think it's foot on the gas time,” said Ryne Nelson, who threw seven quality innings Friday. "Let's see how far out in front of .500 we can get. I think that this team can get on a roll and we can play really well.”

The D-backs' high-water mark this year was two games over .500 on April 2 and they were a season-worst seven games under at the end of May.

In a very muddy National League Wild Card race, the D-backs are just one game out of the final Wild Card spot.

“You know, coming back in here after the win… definitely felt a little different,” said Alek Thomas. “And you know, we want to stay above that mark and continue to get better.”

Thomas was one of the key parts of the win, helping tie the game in the eighth with a two-run single to left after Toronto reliever Trevor Richards walked a pair of hitters and threw a wild pitch to put runners at second and third with two outs.

“It seemed like he was a guy that throws a lot of changeups,” Thomas said. “So I was waiting for a changeup and reacted to the fastball and tried to go the other way and it seemed like the plan worked out pretty well.”

After Thomas tied the game, the D-backs turned to Chad Green in the ninth. He issued a leadoff walk to Corbin Carroll. One out later, Ketel Marte also drew a walk and they advanced to second and third on a double steal.

Christian Walker was walked intentionally to load the bases and Geraldo Perdomo delivered the game-winning sac fly.

“When I’ve got a runner in scoring position late in the game, most of the time, I think about just hitting the ball over the shortstop,” Perdomo said. “But with a situation like bases loaded, infield in, I always try to hit the ball in the air.”

The D-backs have been beset by injuries during the first half. Right-hander Zac Gallen, closer Paul Sewald, Thomas and Perdomo all missed significant time.

Starter Eduardo Rodriguez, signed as a free agent, has been out all year, while fellow rotation mates Merrill Kelly and Jordan Montgomery are currently on the IL.

The D-backs have tried their best to hold serve as they wait to get their injured players back.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said that players have talked to him about getting back to .500 and then going on a run.

“[Being over .500] is a real thing,” Lovullo said. “I'm not gonna lie. I don't want to pretend that it's not a real thing and I'm proud of us for persevering and grinding through it and just keeping after it. Everything we've been through over the course of this pre All-Star break, it’s been a lot. We’ve had to put up with a lot. We’ve had to deal with a lot and being adaptable is part of our culture. Making adjustments is part of our culture. So it’s nice to see us come out the other side a little bit."