Arizona starter Michael Soroka left the mound after delivering one flawless inning against Minnesota, then limping off during the second‑inning warm‑up with posterior left hip discomfort. He struck out two, allowed two hits on nine pitches and kept the game scoreless before the injury forced his exit. Taylor Clarke entered to finish the start.

The loss compounds a rash of arm problems for the D‑backs. Earlier in the week right‑hander Ryne Nelson landed on the injured list with a sprained elbow and strained forearm after a seven‑inning, 4‑3 victory over the Angels. Nelson’s 3‑5 record and Soroka’s 8‑3 line highlight a rotation that has swung from a 4‑0 start to a shaky mid‑season stretch.

With Soroka’s 3.11 ERA leading the club in wins, his sudden absence forces Arizona to dip deeper into a thin bullpen. Clarke inherits a 5‑4 lead, but the D‑backs now face a crowded schedule and limited fresh arms. Managerial decisions this weekend will determine whether the team can preserve its winning momentum.

Arizona’s next series against the Dodgers tests the depth of its rotation. If Clarke can hold the lead, the D‑backs buy time to assess Soroka’s condition and consider a short‑term call‑up. Until then, the pitching staff must regroup quickly to stay within the NL West chase.