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 "He's opened my eyes," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. "I'm
really excited about his future because he's going to get a better
breaking ball and trust his changeup more and he's going to have
three pitches. He's going to be a pretty good pitcher for us."
Ray took a no-hitter into the fifth and a shutout into the eighth,
leading the Diamondbacks to a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on
Tuesday night.
The D-backs (41-42) also pounded out 13 hits -- their eighth
straight game in double figures -- to take the opener of the
two-game interleague series at Globe Life Park.
Arizona can get back to the .500 mark for the first time since it
was 8-8 with a win in Wednesday's finale. The Diamondbacks are one
game under breakeven for the 13th time since April 24.
Texas (41-43) has lost its past seven games at home and has fallen
two games below .500 for the first time since May 28.
Ray (3-4) didn't give up a hit until the fifth inning and worked 7
2/3 innings, snapping a personal three-game losing streak. The
Rangers managed only four hits and two runs (both unearned) against
the left-hander in the longest outing of his career.
"The key is to always get ahead of hitters," Ray said. "If you get
ahead, then you can pitch your game, and that was the key tonight. I
felt like everything was working, especially my fastball command."
Arizona third baseman Jake Lamb went 3-for-4 and drove in the game's
first two runs in the fifth. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt and
center fielder A.J. Pollock, the team's two All-Stars, each had an
RBI.
Goldschmidt was one of four Arizona starters with multiple hits. The
club's eight-game run of at least 10 hits is two shy of the
franchise record set in 1999.
Arizona closer Brad Ziegler worked a perfect ninth for his 13th
save, tying a career high.
Texas starter Yovani Gallardo (7-7) gave up a run for the first time
in more than 33 innings and took his first loss since April 19. The
righty played with fire, piled up pitches and baserunners early
before finally getting burned.
"He had to battle for his outs," Texas manager Jeff Banister said.
"He had some traffic tonight, but really I still thought he threw
the ball well."
Gallardo allowed three runs on eight hits and five walks in 5 2/3
innings. Gallardo hadn't allowed a run since June 10.
Texas finally got on the board in the eighth thanks to a three-base
error by right fielder Yasmany Tomas, who misplayed a sinking drive
from Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus. Second baseman Rougned Odor
added a run-scoring single later in the inning to cut the deficit to
two runs.
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After getting through the first two innings unscathed, Gallardo had
the third-longest scoreless streak in club history. Gallardo came
into the game with the longest such run in the majors this season.
Gallardo did need to work around troubles, as he allowed eight
baserunners through the first four innings. The D-backs had at least
two on base three times, including the bases loaded in the fourth,
but a pair of double plays helped keep the zeros on the scoreboard.
"My mechanics were a little off, to be honest," Gallardo said. "I'd
make a good pitch and the next one was getting away from me. I made
some pitches to get some big outs. Games like that is where you have
to battle and get through as many innings as you can."
Arizona broke through in the fifth after a one-out triple by left
fielder David Peralta, whose drive to left glanced off the glove
retreating Texas left fielder Josh Hamilton. After walking first
baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Gallardo struck out Tomas as Goldschmidt
stole second. Lamb followed with a broken-bat single to center to
score both runners for a 2-0 lead.
"We were hitting the ball hard," Lamb said. "And then I come up and
break my bat, don't hit the ball hard, and that's two RBI."
Gallardo's scoreless streak ended at 33 1/3 innings.
NOTES: Texas LF Josh Hamilton returned to the lineup Tuesday after
missing three days. He said his right hip was the problem, but he
was able to play. ... Rangers INF Jurickson Profar had labrum
surgery earlier this week, according to the Dallas Morning News. The
22-year-old former No. 1 prospect in baseball is expected to need a
full year of recovery. He hasn't played since 2013 due to shoulder
problems. ... Arizona came into the game one hit shy of 25,000 in
franchise history. ... Texas is 1-4-1 in last six series going into
the opener of the two-game set against Arizona. ... The D-backs
faced a team outside of the National League West for the first time
in 17 games.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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