Rocky third inning does in Ray, D-backs

PHOENIX -- D-backs starter Robbie Ray made it past a bad inning, pitched a few more without allowing a run, and kept his team close enough to mount a late rally.

But that rally wasn't enough, and the D-backs fell 4-3 on Wednesday night to drop two out of three to the Dodgers. Ray suffered his fourth loss in his last five starts.

"He just couldn't stop the bleeding that one inning," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "Other than that I thought he pitched pretty well, gave us a chance to win. You know, in this ballpark you think you can score four runs."

Ray gave up a trio of runs in the third inning on an RBI double to Kike Hernandez and a two-run double by Justin Turner, which gave the Dodgers an early 4-0 lead.

But Ray made it through that inning, lasting six frames despite giving up four runs on a season-high seven hits.

"That's what it is the whole time, you're just trying to keep your team in it and let the team get a chance for a win," Ray said. "I just left some pitches up and they took advantage of it."

Video: LAD@ARI: Ray starts double play to end top of the 4th

Ray has suffered from a lack of run support in many of his outings this season. It was the fifth time in his seven starts that the offense scored less than four runs for the left-hander.

Although his 2-4 record may not indicate it, Ray continues to pitch well enough to keep his team in games -- his stated goal. He has lasted at least six innings in five outings, and Wednesday's loss was the first time he had allowed four earned runs in a start.

"I was able to throw my fastball to both sides of the plate today, just hung a few off-speed pitches, and they took advantage of it," Ray said. "They definitely earned it."

The D-backs scored a run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Aaron Hill, who had previously homered, and they cut the Dodgers' lead to 4-3 in the ninth on a one-out David Peralta solo shot.

Video: LAD@ARI: Peralta lines solo homer off Jansen in 9th

Even though Ray suffered another loss, his focus remains on continuing to give his club a chance to win games.

"It's baseball. It's going to happen," Ray said. "This game will humble you real quick, so I'm just trying to stay even keel and know what I need to work on going into next outing."