Robbie Ray limits damage, D-backs move to 6-1 after beating Cardinals
Apr 5, 2018, 8:35 PM
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
While some of the same problems persisted from his first start, Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Robbie Ray had a much better day on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ray went six innings, striking out nine, walking five and giving up one earned run over 98 pitches in the D-backs’ 3-1 win over the Cardinals.
Needless to say, it was an improvement for Ray after his seven runs (six earned) allowed against the Colorado Rockies in start number one of 2018.
After Ray himself brought in a run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning and David Peralta’s single on the next at-bat knocked in another, Ray ran into trouble.
Marcell Ozuna singled to start the bottom half of the inning and Jose Martinez walked, putting two runners on with no outs. Ray would work himself out of it, though, getting Yadier Molina to line out and striking out the next two hitters.
Peralta picked up his second RBI of the night on a double in the fourth to make it 3-0 D-backs.
The bottom of that inning in the same part of the Cardinals order would once again cause Ray problems.
He walked Matt Carpenter, and after getting Ozuna to pop out, Martinez walked for the second time. This time, Molina made Ray pay, hitting a double to left and bringing home Carpenter.
It looked like Ray could start to unravel, but again, Ray struck out the last two batters of the inning to get out of the jam.
Ray started the fifth and six innings with walks but retired three straight hitters after each to hold off the Cardinals.
The bullpen did well to limit the drama in the final three innings.
Yoshihisa Hirano recorded a 1-2-3 seventh inning and the combination of Andrew Chafin and Archie Bradley took care of the eighth inning, giving up only one hit.
Brad Boxberger pitched a perfect ninth inning for his third save of the season and a D-backs win to move them to 6-1 on the season.
UP NEXT
The two teams will resume the three-game series on Saturday. Zack Greinke will have his second start of the season while Michael Wacha is on the mound for St. Louis. First pitch is set for 11:15 a.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
