Diamondbacks fall to Dodgers 3-2

Robbie Ray pitched a decent game tonight, giving up only 4 hits, walking 3 and striking out 9 . However the 4 hits included two home runs and two doubles, that produced 3 runs in his 6 ¹⁄₃ innings of work, and that was enough for the Dodgers. Ross Stripling got the start for LA in a bullpen game, and gave way after surrendering two runs through three innings. From there the DBacks managed just 2 hits and a walk over the final six innings, and were not able to score again.

The game started off with Ray getting too much of the plate with an 0-2 fastball to leadoff hitter Enrique Hernandez who hit it over the left field wall for a 1-0 Dodgers lead. In their half of the inning the DBacks answered right back however. Eduardo Escobar drew a two out walk and a wild pickoff throw by Stripling advanced him to 2nd. David Peralta promptly cashed in with a double down the left field line into the corner to tie it up at one a piece.

Ray was dealing in the 2nd and 3rd innings, retiring six straight on 26 pitches. In the bottom of the 3rd Ketel Marte singled and advanced to 2nd on a ground out. Once again David Peralta would get the RBI knock, this time a groundball single into center to make it 2-1 DBacks.

There was a strange play in the top of the 4th inning. Justin Turner got hit by a pitch, and then Alex Verdugo hit a groundball to Nick Ahmed shifted to the right of the bag. Ahmed ran at Turner, who slid barely halfway to the base, and after a replay review it was determined Ahmed got the tag down. The slide was questionable for some, although Torey Lovullo said it was “Just good hard baseball” You be the judge

Ray managed to get out of that jam and had another 1-2-3 inning in the 5th. But Justin Turner lead off the 6th with a homerun to tie it up. Alex Verdugo and and Chris Taylor followed with doubles, making the score 3-2 and giving the Dodgers the final margin of victory.

Ray did end up coming out for the 7th and got one out. In fact he has pitched 6 innings or more in five straight starts, answering some concerns about getting deeper into games. Matt Andriese and T.J. McFarland combined to give the team 2 ¹⁄₃ scoreless innings of relief, so the rest of the pen should be pretty well rested for tomorrow’s series finale.

The DBacks had a chance to tie it up in the bottom of the 9th. Nick Ahmed had a two out single, and stole 2nd base. Carson Kelly, who had a double and a walk on the night, battled closer Kenley Jansen to a 9 pitch at bat, but ended up tapping out on a check swing grounder to end the game.

After the game, Torey announced that Domingo Leyba was being optioned back to Reno to make way for Jake Lamb. He also confirmed earlier reports that lefty Alex Young would make his major league debut in San Francisco on Thursday

Fangraphs Box

WPA Leaders and laggards

David Peralta +.142. Matt Andriese. +.129

Christian Walker. -.170. Robbie Ray -.111

Roll Call Info

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Day baseball tomorrow for the rubber match at Chase. Taylor Clark against Tony Gonsolin, making his major league debut