CINCINNATI -- After two frustrating defeats to begin this road trip and a team meeting following Saturday's loss, the D-backs wanted to come out with a sense of urgency on Sunday. They certainly did that, expressing their vexation by belting five home runs -- including two from Paul Goldschmidt -- in a 9-2 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park to avoid a sweep.
With the Dodgers' loss to the Rockies, the D-backs moved back into sole possession of first place in the National League West by one game.
"It was a game we really wanted to win," third baseman Daniel Descalso said. "I don't know if it was a must-win, but it felt like we really needed to play with a sense of urgency today, and we did."
Descalso did his part to get the D-backs off to a faster start. Jonathan Jay led off the game with a base hit and David Peralta drew a one-out walk. Two batters later, Descalso quickly fell behind, 0-2, but took advantage of a Luis Castillo fastball that drifted over the middle of the plate and hammered it over the center-field wall.

"I think he was trying to come inside and get it all the way across the plate," Descalso said. "I was ready to hit and was able to barrel it and drive it out to center. It was nice to score first and put the pressure on them from there."
It was a largely sluggish series for the D-backs at the plate through the first two games. They scored three runs and collected 12 hits in a pair of losses. But the offense showed signs of life on a nine-run day, and the five damaging home runs were more than enough to salvage a game in this series.
Descalso's blast gave starter Zack Godley an early 3-0 cushion, and he took full advantage. Godley went 6 2/3 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. The unearned run came in the second inning on an error by Godley when he dropped a ball at first base that could have been a 3-6-1 inning-ending double play.

Cincinnati added another run in the third when Jose Peraza hit a one-out triple and scored on a Joey Votto sac fly, but Godley scattered three hits and held the Reds scoreless until his exit in the seventh inning. Godley has pitched into the seventh frame in three straight starts and has not suffered a loss since July 1. He has issued one walk in seven of his last eight starts.
"I thought Zack did a great job setting a tone for us," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "Zack has made big pitches when he's had to."

Castillo retired 13 hitters in a row after Descalso's home run and it looked as if the D-backs would be unable to build upon an early lead for the second consecutive game. But Arizona was able to crack Castillo the third time through the order. Jay led off the sixth inning with his second base hit of the game and Goldschmidt demolished an elevated fastball two pitches later to give the D-backs a 5-2 lead.

Arizona continued to pile it on with three more home runs in the ninth inning. Eduardo Escobar belted a two-run shot to right field and Goldschmidt smacked his second homer of the game to left two batters later, capping a day in which he went 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

"That's a really special year as is," Lovullo said. "Aside from that month of May, he has been a really consistent player for us. Hitting is hard. It is not going to come as some like it, but we know he has been our main guy all year long."
• Goldschmidt set to DH for D-backs in Texas 
Three pitches later, Peralta slugged an 0-2 fastball over the left-field wall for the third home run of the inning to blow the game open at 9-2. Arizona twice coughed up a lead in Saturday's loss and was unable to build on an early advantage. On Sunday, the D-backs poured it on late after going ahead early.

"That is something we have talked about, needing to keep the pedal down," Descalso said. "Keep trying to score and put the game out of reach instead of giving the other team hope they can come back. Today was a really nice job of that."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Godley escapes 6th with a double play: After Goldschmidt's home run gave the D-backs some breathing room in what was still a 5-2 game, the Reds put two runners on with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. But Godley escaped, inducing a ground ball off Mason Williams for a 4-6-3 double play to quickly escape the jam.

"That double play in the sixth was a key moment that sticks out to me," Lovullo said. "Those are things Zack has repeatedly done. When he needs big outs, he knows how to pick himself up."
SOUND SMART
Godley has not allowed a home run since giving up one to Starlin Castro on June 26. The 211 straight batters faced over eight starts without allowing a homer is tied for the fourth-longest stretch in team history, and the longest since Trevor Cahill in 2012.
HE SAID IT
"This was a hard game for us. Yesterday was very difficult, a grinding game we came out on the short end of. But we did what we were supposed to do and I think good teams are able to turn the page as quick as they possibly can to get ready to perform. A lot of guys stepped up and it was a pretty special day for all of us." -- Lovullo, on bouncing back from a couple frustrating losses
UP NEXT
The D-backs continue their nine-game road trip against the Rangers on Monday with Zack Greinke on the mound at Globe Life Park at 5:05 p.m. MST. The right-hander has lost his last two outings despite going at least six innings and giving up two runs or fewer in both starts. Greinke allowed one run on three hits in seven innings with four walks and four strikeouts in his last start against the Phillies. Bartolo Colon will get the nod for the Rangers.