Sedona Red Recap: Godley, late offense power D-backs over Phillies

The Diamondbacks picked up a series win and won their sixth straight game on Saturday, defeating the Phillies thanks in part to some late offense.

Arizona (43-26) won 5-1 at Citizens Bank Park.

The game got underway after a rain delay of about 50 minutes in length. But the original probable starters, Jerad Eickhoff and Zack Godley, still took the bump — despite having their warm-ups interrupted by the inclement weather.

Godley entered the game 2-1 with a 2.44 ERA. Arizona needed a new arm in the rotation after Shelby Miller hit the DL with Tommy John surgery in April, and Godley has proven more than sufficient for that role.

Saturday was no exception.

The 27-year-old right hander went 5.2 innings with just one run allowed on five hits, three walks and eight strikeouts. The walks and hits weren’t ideal for Godley, who was making his eighth start this year, but he kept the D-backs well within reach of victory.

Though Godley allowed the Phillies’ (22-45) only run, the D-backs plated the ballgame’s first run in the third inning. It was during that frame that Daniel Descalso walked, Paul Goldschmidt singled and Jake Lamb followed with another single, this time for the RBI. That was with Eickhoff pitching for Philly.

Eickhoff, a right-hander, entered the game 0-7 with a 5.09 ERA, still seeking his first win despite having made 13 starts. In his 14th appearance on the year, he got a no-decision and allowed one run on five hits and three walks over six innings.

The Phillies tied things up in the bottom of the sixth inning when a walk, double and a sac fly by Philadelphia made it 1-1. But Arizona answered right back in the next half inning.

Edubray Ramos and Casey Fien pitched for the Phillies in the seventh inning, and the D-backs tagged them for four runs to take a 5-1 lead. Part of the power surge was a two-run double by Paul Goldschmidt to bring his RBI total on the year to 54.

Jorge De La Rosa, J.J. Hoover, Andrew Chafin, and T.J. McFarland pitched in relief after Godley’s exit, allowing a combined zero runs on four hits and two walks, and sealing the win for Arizona.

THE GOOD

–Lamb’s RBI for the first run of the game was his 59th of the year, good for the major-league lead.

–Godley’s ERA dipped to 2.34 after the outing, the best such mark of D-backs starters.

–With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, the Phillies were threatening to score when Goldschmidt snagged a line drive to record the third out. The play likely saved multiple runs.

–Daniel Descalso led off and started in left field. He finished the day 2-for-4 with a walk, RBI and two runs scored.

–McFarland pitched two scoreless innings in relief to end the game and hold the 5-1 lead. His ERA falls to 1.74 on the year.

THE BAD

–Despite the stellar ERA, Godley’s WHIP ticked up from 0.990 to 1.040 after he gave up five hits and three walks on Friday.

–Arizona’s offense was mostly quiet while Eickhoff was on the mound, despite the fact that Eickhoff is still winless this year and holds an ERA north of five.

UP NEXT

The D-backs play a series finale with the Phillies on Sunday, looking for their sweep. If they pull it off, it will be Arizona’s seventh straight win and first three-game road sweep this year (the D-backs won both of their games at Detroit earlier this week).

The Phillies’ Ben Lively will pitch on Sunday. The right-hander will be making just his fourth career major league start, all this season. Lively, 25, carries a 3.00 ERA in 21 innings this year with a 1.333 WHIP.

Meanwhile, Arizona sends southpaw Robbie Ray to the mound. Pitching like an ace this year, Ray is 7-3 with a 2.62 ERA and a 1.069 WHIP this season. He has allowed just one run in his last five starts.

Sunday’s game begins at 10:35 a.m. MST.

After that, Arizona gets a day off before a three-game series in Denver to play the first-place Rockies. Then they’ll come back home for a 10-game home stand against the Phillies, Cardinals and Rockies.

Follow @mattjlayman