Offense backs Ray as D-backs down Phillies

June 25th, 2017

PHOENIX -- After a quiet Friday, the D-backs' offense broke out with 12 hits Saturday night, including a home run from , which kick-started a three-run sixth as the D-backs beat the Phillies, 9-2, at Chase Field.
The offensive support helped make a winner of Robbie Ray, who allowed two runs over 6 1/3 innings. The Phillies grabbed a 2-1 lead off Ray in the fourth, when Philly starter hit his first career homer, a two-run shot into the pool area in right-center.
"A much-needed win for us tonight after a tough loss yesterday," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "I thought Robbie did a great job of setting the tone; 6 1/3 and he seemed to be in control of pretty much the entire game. I thought Jake Lamb dug out a pitch in the bottom of the zone for his home run. It was just a really nice effort for these guys."

The D-backs, who managed just one run Friday, tied the game in the bottom of the fourth and added another one in the fifth before blowing things open with three runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.

"I just kind of let it get away from me tonight," Lively said. "I was getting squeezed on some pitches down in the zone and it got me a little bit more. … I wouldn't say really frustrated, but just going, going, going. I kind of let the speed of the game catch up to me, and I usually don't let that happen and I made some bad pitches."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Double leads to trouble: Lively hit a home run, but Ray managed to do some damage with his bat as well. With one out in the fifth, Ray doubled to deep center off Lively. One out later, singled to right to score Ray with the go-ahead run.
"It ran into my barrel a little bit and was able to put a good swing on it," Ray said.

Said Lovullo, "He's been talking about how well he feels at home plate. He bunts, and there are times when I'm asking him to bunt, but he comes back and he's always saying, 'I could have done a little bit more' When he does things like that, I tend to believe him.
Narrow escape: The Phillies had a golden opportunity to do damage in the seventh, but an outstanding play by catcher Chris Herrmann helped stopped the Philadelphia rally. With the bases loaded and one out, hit a soft grounder to third that Lamb threw home for the force. His throw was to the right of home and Herrmann managed to stretch for the ball while keeping his foot on the plate. So instead of at least one run scoring, there were two outs and blew a 98 mph fastball past Tommy Joseph to end the inning. More >
"I just tried to knock it down and thankfully I caught it and dragged my foot over the plate," Herrmann said. "I don't know how to describe what was going on in my head, it's really just one of those times where the athleticism takes over in our bodies and you kind of react."

QUOTABLE
"I was pretty pumped up about that. Then I kind of stayed a little too pumped up. I can't pitch like that. I was making terrible pitches. I was grabbing the ball and going. I wasn't even thinking. You can't do that up here." -- Lively, on the adrenaline from the fourth-inning homer carrying into his later innings on the mound

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Lively became the first Phillies pitcher to homer in a game since on May 10, 2015, and the first Phillies rookie pitcher to homer in a game since Tyler Green on Aug. 23, 1995. It also was the first time the Phillies scored their only runs on a pitcher's homer since Cliff Lee went deep on July 9, 2011. More >
Fan snags home run while holding a tray of food
INSTANT REPLAY
Herrmann doubled to right-center field in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring two runs. The Phillies challenged the play because they thought a fan interfered with the ball at the wall. But the replay official confirmed the call, putting Herrmann on second base with a two-run double.

WHAT'S NEXT
Phillies: Right-hander (5-5, 4.61 ERA) starts the third game of the four-game series against the D-backs on Sunday at 4:10 p.m. ET at Chase Field. He allowed one run in seven innings last week against the Cardinals in his best start since April. He had been 1-5 with a 6.89 ERA in nine starts from May 2 to June 14.
D-backs: will make a spot start for the D-backs on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. MST in the third game of a four-game set with the Phillies. By inserting Delgado into the rotation for this start it allows all five members of the rotation to receive an additional day of rest.
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