Sedona Red Recap: D-backs jump ahead early, Ray fans 11 to beat Padres
Jun 6, 2017, 11:21 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake Lamb follows through on a swing for a two-run single against the San Diego Padres during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 6, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — After going 5-6 on the road over 11 straight days, the Arizona Diamondbacks returned to Chase Field on Tuesday and extended their MLB-best home record to 22-8 with a 10-2 win against the San Diego Padres.
Robbie Ray (5-3, 3.00 ERA) took to the mound attempting to extend his scoreless streak of 24.2 innings.
Ray was dominant all night long against the Padres, who couldn’t seem to figure him out aside from a solo home run in the fourth inning by Hunter Renfroe that ended his scoreless streak at 27.2 frames. Ray worked quickly all night long, stayed ahead in the count and kept batters off balance.
He went 6.2 innings, giving up three hits and one earned run while striking out 11 batters and walking two.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Ray said. “I got a good game plan with my catchers, so I mean, it’s almost just get the ball back and whatever they throw down I feel comfortable with.”
Meanwhile, the D-backs offense found its stride again despite the struggles coming off a 3-1 series loss in Miami. Arizona attacked Padres starter Dinelson Lamet (2-0, 2.70 ERA) early.
Jake Lamb led the way with a double and two RBI in the first inning that gave Ray all the run support he would need.
More production by Lamb in the form of a two-RBI single in the second inning followed by a Chris Owings three-run home run, his career-high seventh of the season, blew the game wide open for the D-backs.
THE GOOD
Ray has been lights out over his last four starts, where he has pitched 30.1 innings, giving up just the one earned run and 11 hits in four D-backs wins.
Over that span, Ray has 36 strikeouts and has only allowed five walks.
Offensively, the D-backs erupted after having a tough series in Miami, which included being no-hit. As a team, Gregor Blanco, Lamb, Paul Goldschmidt, Owings, and Daniel Descalso all contributed runs or RBI in the victory.
THE BAD
The D-backs pitching staff allowed two home runs to Hunter Renfroe, the second multi-HR game of his career. Relief pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen allowed the second solo homer and gave up two hits and a walk in 2.1 innings.
Goldschmidt and Herrmann were both hit by pitches in the game. Goldy was fine, manager Torey Lovullo said, while Herrmann left the game with right hand soreness.
STAT OF THE GAME
27.2 scoreless innings. Ray edges out Andy Benes at 27.1 scoreless innings pitched for third all-time in club history behind Brandon Webb, who had two longer scoreless streaks of 42.0 innings pitched in 2007 and 30.0 in 2006.
HE SAID IT
Torey Lovullo on Robbie Ray: “There’s fearlessness in what he’s doing. There’s fearlessness in the days leading up to his start, there’s fearlessness in his pregame, there’s fearlessness in the execution of all of his pitches. And I know there was a mechanical adjustment where he picked up a little bit of the tempo. And it’s translated, so credit to him for doing all that work to make it work the way it is right now.”
NOTED
– Before the game, the D-backs recalled pitcher Zack Godley and outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker.
– The corresponding move was to place outfielder Yasmany Tomás on the 10-day disabled list. Tomás is dealing with right groin tendinitis. The D-backs also optioned right-hand pitcher Braden Shipley to the Reno Aces.
– With 95 total strikeouts on the season, Ray is currently ranked fourth in Major League Baseball.
– With a first-pitch temperature of 105 degrees, the roof was closed with inside temps of 80 degrees.
UP NEXT
On Wednesday, the D-backs look to continue their success at home against the Padres this season, who they currently have a 4-1 record against at Chase Field.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning 40 minutes earlier on 98.7 FM, Arizona’s Sports Station.
Zack Greinke (7-3, 3.06 ERA) will take on Luis Perdomo (0-2, 5.01 ERA) in game two.
Greinke is 1-1 against the Padres this season in two starts with a 1.29 ERA and 17 strikeouts. He struck out 11 in his last start against San Diego on April 24.
Greinke struck out eight in his last start on June 1 against the Marlins and is currently tied for seventh in MLB (with Clayton Kershaw) at 92 strikeouts this season.
Perdomo was roughed up in his only start against Arizona this season. He went 3.0 innings, giving up 11 hits and eight earned runs in a losing effort.
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