When the Diamondbacks sent sluggers Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners in separate deals before the trade deadline, they talked about the ramifications the moves would have on their offense. They knew they would no longer be as powerful, but they thought they could offset that somewhat by being more dynamic.

Nine games later, that is pretty much what has transpired, a reality further borne out during an eight-run fifth inning on Sunday, Aug. 10, that included a franchise-record nine consecutive hits — eight singles and a double – that keyed a 13-6 win at Chase Field.

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It worth noting — as well as underlining and circling — the fact these past three games came against the Colorado Rockies and their hapless pitching staff, a series in which the Diamondbacks tallied 25 runs en route to a sweep. They also got to face the Athletics for three games in Sacramento. Those are two of the three worst pitching staffs in the majors.

Still, since the deadline, the Diamondbacks are averaging 5.7 per game and hitting .277 as a team. They have won six of nine.

“I think by and large when you take off (36) home runs and a ton of production at third base and something very similar at first base, you want to start to play good baseball and win games in different ways,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “And we’re doing it. I’m really happy for these guys.”

There have been some encouraging signs on an individual level.

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Right fielder Corbin Carroll is back to consistently driving the ball like he did early in the season. Infielder Blaze Alexander has played well on both sides of the ball since taking over at third base for Suarez. Catcher/designated hitter Adrian Del Castillo enjoyed a pair of productive days against the Rockies. And left fielder Lourdes Gurriel might be entering one of his patented hot stretches.

“I feel like the guys have been putting good at-bats together, seeing a lot of pitches,” shortstop Geraldo Perdomo said. “Just putting the ball in play. We’ve been getting on base a lot, too. I think that’s why we’ve been successful so far.”

The rally in the fifth started after Ketel Marte and Perdomo began the inning with consecutive pop outs. The Diamondbacks then recorded seven consecutive singles before Marte shot a double into the left-field corner. Perdomo punctuated the rally with one last single. The Diamondbacks previously had recorded seven hits in a row four times in club history.

The sweep brings the Diamondbacks back to the periphery of the wild-card race. That is, they are in roughly the same spot they were in during the week that preceded their deadline sell-off.

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At 57-61, they are six games out of the third wild-card spot and would need to pass four teams. They will have to show they can handle clubs other than the Rockies — who are on pace to be nearly as bad as last year’s 121-loss Chicago White Sox — if they want to truly be considered a part of the race.

“I think those three games is the kind of baseball we’ve been looking for,” said right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, who gave up three runs in five innings. “Hopefully we can keep that rolling on the road trip.”

Said Lovullo: “We’ve got to string together a really nice streak of games where we play like we did this weekend. Look, it’s too early to say we’re climbing and we’re changing gears. August is moving month. You’re going to see some teams reverse course and some teams go north. We want to keep going north.”

—Nick Piecoro

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Three Diamondbacks ready for rehab assignments

Catcher Gabriel Moreno, first baseman Pavin Smith and infielder Ildemaro Vargas are set to begin rehab assignments with Triple-A Reno on Aug. 12, manager Torey Lovullo said.

Lovullo said none of the three are likely to return during the club’s upcoming road trip to Texas and Colorado, but could be back during the homestand that follows.

“I wouldn’t say everybody on one day, but we could sprinkle it in there around the same time,” Lovullo said.

All three have been active participants in various game settings at Salt River Fields and in complex games in recent days.

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Moreno has been out since June 14 with a fractured right index finger, Smith since July 5 with an oblique strain and Vargas since June 24 with a broken bone in his right foot.

— Nick Piecoro

Coming up

Aug. 11: At Texas, 5:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (6-3, 3.20) vs. Rangers RHP Nathan Eovaldi (10-3, 1.38).

Aug. 12: At Texas, 5:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Anthony DeSclafani (1-2, 4.20) vs. Rangers RHP Jack Leiter (7-6, 4.05).

Aug. 13: At Texas, 11:35 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (9-12, 5.31) vs. Rangers RHP Merrill Kelly (9-7, 3.38).

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks complete sweep of Rockies, fueled by 8-run outburst in 5th