Ray pitches seven-inning shutout to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to fourth straight win: By the Numbers

Jun 15, 2015, 11:15 PM | Updated: 11:15 pm

After their three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants in the Bay Area over the weekend, the Arizona Diamondbacks picked up their fourth straight win Monday when they defeated the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 in Anaheim.

On the arm of a sparking seven-inning, two-hit shutout courtesy of starter Robbie Ray, the D-backs are now within a game of posting a .500 record for the season.

However, the game would begin auspiciously, as starting right fielder Ender Inciarte would leave the game in the first inning after pulling up lame in an effort to to beat a throw to first. After the game, D-backs manager Chip Hale would announce that Inciarte suffered a strained left hamstring and would be making his way to the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.

Chip Hale announces post-game that Ender Inciarte will go on 15-day disabled list. A corresponding move will be made tomorrow.

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 16, 2015

Yet, despite the injury to Inciarte, the D-backs would rally behind Ray and an offense that continues to flourish at the plate this year.

For Ray, the start would mark the third time in the last four games that a D-backs starting pitcher would throw five hitless innings to begin the game. The start would also lower Ray’s ERA to 1.09, earning him his second win of the year (2-1).

D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and Monday’s designated hitter Yasmany Tomas would carry the day for the D-backs on offense, as their three-run and solo home runs in the third and sixth innings, respectively, would give the D-backs a 5-0 lead that would last until the eighth inning.

Though the Arizona bullpen would take fans on an adventurous ride following a two-run double from Angels center fielder Mike Trout and a towering hit from first baseman Albert Pujols that reached the warning track in eighth, the D-backs would ultimately pull out their 31st victory of the season.

Below we take a look at Arizona’s win, by the numbers.

3

The number of runs allowed by Ray in 24.2 innings pitched over four starts this season. Don’t look now, but the 23-year-old is rapidly establishing himself as one of the best arms in the D-backs starting rotation following his seven-inning shutout in which he only allowed two hits.

5

D-backs starters have now begun with five hitless innings in three of the last four games. Ray’s no-hit bid was broken up in the sixth inning following a single by Angels left fielder Daniel Robertson.

0.62

To further put in perspective the stellar recent outings from the D-backs’ starting rotation, Arizona starters have posted a 0.62 ERA over the last four games. Credit Chase Anderson, Allen Webster, Rubby De La Rosa and the aforementioned Ray.

31

Cliff Pennington’s 31st birthday couldn’t have gone much better Monday. Though he was forced into the contest following the hamstring injury to Inciarte in the first inning, Pennington made the most of his opportunity. Despite having next no experience playing in the outfield, Pennington would take over in left after Hale moved starting left fielder David Peralta to Inciarte’s vacant position in right. Not only would Pennington gun down Erick Aybar at second in the sixth inning, but the birthday boy would be clutch at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI bunt single to provide an insurance run for the D-backs in the ninth.

Cliff Pennington, outfield phenom. #WebGem pic.twitter.com/kRZU1I7fZQ

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 16, 2015

.524

Goldschmidt’s batting average with two outs and runners in scoring position this season. Goldy’s three-run home run in the third inning was his 18th of the season, giving him four home runs and 16 RBI with two outs and runners in scoring position in 2015.