Ray stymies Rox as D-backs sweep twin bill
DENVER -- Left-hander Robbie Ray held the Rockies to one run on five hits in six innings in his 2015 debut as the D-backs won Wednesday's nightcap, 5-1, to take both ends of a doubleheader at Coors Field. With the win, Arizona improved to 5-1 against Colorado this season. The D-backs took Game 1 by a 13-7 score.
"My fastball command was big today, and I was able to keep it below the knees, most importantly, with everybody in the lineup," Ray said. "I didn't leave the ball up, and they didn't have a chance to really hurt me."
Ray (1-0) benefited from Paul Goldschmidt's seventh homer of the year -- a solo drive in the fourth -- and a three-run fifth that included David Peralta's two-run double just over the glove of right fielder Charlie Blackmon, who misread the ball's flight.
A key for Ray and the D-backs was the starter's ability to throw shutdown innings after his team took the lead in the fifth.
"We've been preaching that since Day 1 of Spring Training," Arizona manager Chip Hale said. "It really helps the hitters. When they go out there after they score a couple runs and they get off the field quickly, things start to roll."
In his longest outing this season, Rockies righty Jordan Lyles (2-3) lasted seven innings and gave up four runs on nine hits, striking out six and walking one.
Video: ARI@COL: McKenry doubles to left-center, scoring Tulo
The D-backs (12-14) pulled out of fifth place in the National League West and pushed Colorado (11-15) into that spot. The Rockies, whose run off Ray came on Michael McKenry's double in the fourth, have lost a season-high seven straight, a stretch during which they've been outscored, 65-25. They've dropped 13 of their last 17.
"There's no magic pill," said Rockies manager Walt Weiss, who was ejected for arguing a strike call in the bottom of the third. "Show up and compete. We've got to pitch better, and we've got to take better at-bats. We've got to play better."
Video: ARI@COL: Weiss ejected for disputing a strikeout call
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Seen enough: After the second out of the bottom of the third, Weiss, having seen his team take a lopsided loss in the doubleheader's first game, disagreed with home-plate umpire Bill Miller on multiple pitches that Ray threw to Lyles. After Lyles took a called third strike, Weiss was ejected from a game for the first time this season.
"We had some differences with the strike zone," Weiss said. "The pitch before that last pitch, I had some words for Bill, and he'd heard enough after the next pitch."
Video: ARI@COL: Goldy drills a solo homer to deep center
In the swing: Goldschmidt broke a scoreless tie with his homer to center. The first baseman was 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in the day's first game, ending a six-game hitting streak. He went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two strikeouts in the nightcap. More >
Not much, but a lot in this case: Lyles finished his start with a strikeout of Goldschmidt. Before this outing, only Kyle Kendrick, on two occasions, had made a start that long for the Rockies this season. Yet, Colorado's inability to manage anything against Ray meant the performance was wasted.
"Today was about attacking with my fastball," Lyles said. "When in doubt, throw the fastball. I had a couple of quick innings to start the game, then we had some trouble in the fifth."
Video: ARI@COL: Peralta plates two runs on a double to right
Big fifth widens lead: Peralta opened the game up with his two-out double and later scored on a Goldschmidt single, giving the D-backs a 4-1 lead.
QUOTABLE
"Today wasn't a good day. We played some bad baseball." -- Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki
"I think it's going to be less roller coaster-like. We have to continue to work hard and do this day in and day out." -- D-backs catcher Tuffy Gosewisch
Video: ARI@COL: Goldy flares a run-scoring single into left
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Before Game 1, Goldschmidt had hit safely in nine straight games against the Rockies. His Game 2 effort raised his average vs. Colorado over the last 11 contests to .480 (24-for-50).
WHAT'S NEXT
D-backs: After Wednesday's twin bill, the D-backs return home to open a four-game series vs. the Padres on Thursday at Chase Field. Rubby De La Rosa will get the ball for Arizona to make his second start against San Diego this season. More >
Rockies: After Wednesday's doubleheader, the Rockies will take Thursday off before playing host to the Dodgers on Friday. Righty Eddie Butler (2-2, 3.81 ERA) will start against Dodgers lefty Brett Anderson (1-1, 4.21 ERA), who spent last season with the Rockies but was on the DL much of the time. More >
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