Sedona Red Recap: Lamb comes up big as Diamondbacks rally past Dodgers

For all their struggles at home this year, the Arizona Diamondbacks have at least been able to score runs at Chase Field. In fact, they were averaging 5.8 per game over their eight home contests prior to Saturday night.

As it turned out, all they needed was two against Brandon McCarthy and the Los Angeles Dodgers – but the bats went completely silent for 8.2 innings.

That’s when Jake Lamb took over.

Down to his last strike with two outs and Michael Bourn on second, Lamb scorched a double to deep center field, evening the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth. Three innings later, he led off the 12th with a triple, then crossed the plate with the game-winning run on a single by Brandon Drury to give the D-backs a 2-1 victory in front of 38,899 fans.

McCarthy was dealing in just his third start of the 2016 campaign, facing one batter over the minimum while striking out eight through 6.0 innings. But Archie Bradley kept Arizona right in it, allowing just the one run over 6.0 innings himself. From there, the bullpen tossed 6.0 scoreless innings to set the stage for Lamb and Drury.

THE GOOD

-In a game where runs were at a premium, Lamb still managed two doubles and a triple.

-Jake Barrett struck out the hot-hitting Howie Kendrick with the bases loaded to close out the top of the seventh inning and keep the Diamondbacks within just one run.

-Randall Delgado got Arizona out of another bases loaded jam in the 12th, when he induced a ground out from Yasiel Puig.

-Overall, the bullpen combination of Barrett, Delgado, Zac Curtis, Daniel Hudson, Tyler Clippard and Enrique Burgos held LA to just four hits and zero runs over the final six frames.

THE BAD

-After leading off the bottom of the third with an infield single, Nick Ahmed was picked off first and caught in a rundown.

-Despite the seventh inning whiff, Kendrick had four hits tonight – and now has seven through the first two games of this series.

-Pinch-hitting with runners on first and second in the eighth, Rickie Weeks Jr. grounded out to end the inning – and the D-backs’ best opportunity to score up to that point.

-Overall, Arizona hitters struck out 16 times in this one.

STAT OF THE GAME

8: Number of triples by Lamb this season – the most in Major League Baseball.

HE SAID IT

“That’s exciting stuff. And the more success that guys have like that, it makes it a lot easier. Drury getting that hit – that’s a lot of anxiety. And next time he comes up, he’s going to know he’s done it before and can do it again. That’s what we’re looking for, especially from some of the younger guys like that.” – Chip Hale

NOTED

-Chris Owings and David Peralta are beginning rehab assignments this weekend. Peralta is dealing with a lower back strain, and will start with Double-A Mobile. Meanwhile, Owings is working his way through plantar fasciitis and will be with Triple-A Reno.

UP NEXT

The Diamondbacks and Dodgers will get together at Chase Field for the third and final game of this series on Sunday. Robbie Ray takes the mound for Arizona, while Los Angeles counters with Kenta Maeda. First pitch is set for 1:10, with pregame coverage beginning at 12:30 on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

Ray (4-8) has dropped three of his last four decisions, including a 5.0-inning effort against the Giants on July 9, when he surrendered three earned runs in a 4-2 loss. On the bright side, he has fanned at least five batters in each of his last 17 starts,

The 24-year old lefty has faced the Dodgers five times in his career, going 2-2 with a 2.40 ERA. That includes a no-decision back on April 14, in which he yielded two runs over 6.1 innings.

Maeda (8-6) is near the top of the National League with his 2.95 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. And he picked up a win in his last outing, scattering just two hits and one run over 7.0 innings in a victory over the Padres on July 10. In two starts against Arizona this year, the 28-year old righty is 1-0 with 10 strikeouts and a 1.59 ERA.

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