Grit Index: D-backs fall to Rays in series opener

Jul 31, 2013, 3:32 AM | Updated: 3:32 am

Ian Kennedy’s struggles continued in his final start before the MLB trade deadline.

Kennedy, who hasn’t won since June 1, failed to increase his trade value in the D-backs’ 5-2 loss to the Rays on Tuesday night.

The veteran right-hander surrendered three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts in five innings of work.

Yunel Escobar and Ben Zobrist led the way offensively for the Rays, driving in two runs each. Escobar hit his eighth home run of the year in the fourth inning off Kennedy.

Arizona had no answer for Tampa starter Roberto Hernandez (6-11), who came within an out of a complete game shutout. It was, however, Hernandez’s first complete game of the year.

The D-backs were in danger of being blanked two games in a row before Eric Chavez hit a two-run home run, his eighth of the season, in the ninth inning. But ultimately, Chavez’s long ball wasn’t enough to rally the D-backs.

The Good:

Chavez raised his average to .300 on the season. He went 1-for-3 with a home run, walk and two RBI for Arizona. The veteran infielder has heated up again as of late, batting .316 in the past seven games. He is batting .250 for the month of July.

The Bad:

With the loss, Kennedy fell to 3-8 on the season. He has failed to record his 50th career win for the 10th straight start.

Noted:

– The game was delayed for 20 minutes when some lights went out in the second inning due to a lightning strike at a power substation in the area.

– The Rays remain scorching hot, notching their 21st win in 25 games for the month of July.

– D-backs’ right-hander Trevor Cahill gave up four runs — three earned — on five hits with three punchouts and three walks in 5.1 innings during a rehab start for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday night.

Up Next:

The D-backs and Rays will play the second of their three-game series on Wednesday, July 31. Left-hander Wade Miley (7-8, 3.86) will get the start for Arizona. He will be opposed by right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (10-3, 4.48) for Tampa.

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Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria, left, races home past Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy to score on an RBI double by teammate James Loney during the first inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy delivers to Tampa Bay Rays' Desmond Jennings during the first inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez delivers to Arizona Diamondbacks' Gerardo Parra during the first inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez delivers to Arizona Diamondbacks batter Gerardo Parra during the first inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy delivers to Tampa Bay Rays batter Desmond Jennings during the first inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Desmond Jennings slides into second base with a fdouble off Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy as the ball skips past second baseman Aaron Hill during the first inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Second base umpire Tom Hallion attempts to get out of the way. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

The Tampa Bay Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks leave the field after a portion of the lights at Tropicana field went out during an electrical storm in the second inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Yunel Escobar, right, celebrates with on-deck batter Desmond Jennings after hitting a fourth-inning home run off Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy during an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy reacts as Tampa Bay Rays' Yunel Escobar rounds the bases after hitting a fourth-inning home run during an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Arizona Diamondbacks centerfielder Adam Eaton leaps high against the wall to make a catch on a third-inning fly ball by Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria during an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist forces out Arizona Diamondbacks' Aaron Hill (2) at second base on a fourth-inning fielder's choice by Paul Goldschmidt during an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Yunel Escobar, right, throws the ball to first base after forcing out Arizona Diamondbacks' Eric Chavez (12) at second base and relaying the throw in time to get Martin Prado at first on a fourth-inning double play during an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Eric Chavez, center, high-fives Gerardo Parra, left, after hitting a ninth-inning, two-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez during an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Catching for the Rays is Jose Molina. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez reacts after retiring Arizona Diamondbacks' Martin Prado to end the game in the ninth inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Hernandez pitched a complete game in the Rays 5-2 win. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Matt Joyce scores past Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Wil Nieves on a sixth-inning sacrifice fly by the Rays' Yunel Escobar off pitcher Will Harris during an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Molina, left, bumps fists with first base coach George Hendrick after hitting a sixth-inning single off Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Will Harris during an interleague baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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