Ray's effort thwarted by errors, quiet bats

SAN DIEGO -- D-backs starter Robbie Ray again pitched better than his record may indicate in Friday night's 4-2 loss to the Padres.

The left-hander has provided solid outings in nearly every start since he was moved into the starting rotation full-time earlier this month. Yet he sports a 2-3 record after Friday's loss, in which some defensive miscues and lack of offensive support thwarted his chance for a win.

"It's what happens, it's baseball," Ray said. "I think I had good stuff tonight. It's just like I got behind in the count on a couple of guys and they took advantage of it. Timely hitting on their part."

Ray gave up three runs, two earned, in six innings, while striking out five and walking none. He posted a 2.08 ERA in June and now has a 1.98 ERA on the season.

However, Ray also lost for the third time in four outings despite three of those, including Friday's, being quality starts.

"His stuff was very good," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "He threw his offspeed pitch more, threw his breaking ball and changeup, which was impressive, his fastball was electric again."

The Padres scored their first run on a Yonder Alonso RBI double in the first inning after a rare Paul Goldschmidt error at first allowed Derek Norris to reach base just before that. Another run scored in the third when Cory Spangenberg stole third and scored, after D-backs catcher Welington Castillo threw the ball past third baseman Jake Lamb into left field.

"Just didn't play the defense that we're used to playing," Hale said. "We're usually tighter than that. We threw the ball away on a steal, but they made it happen, they pushed the envelope and they did a nice job and it worked."

Ray, however, was still appreciative of the plays his defense did make. Yasmany Tomas made a pair of nice catches in right field and shortstop Nick Ahmed robbed Melvin Upton Jr. of a base hit with an impressive diving stop in the eighth.

Video: ARI@SD: Ahmed dives, sets and gets the out at first

Although Ray used all of his pitches efficiently, he wasn't pleased with allowing the Padres' baserunners to be aggressive. Spangenberg stole second after a leadoff single in the fifth and soon scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Matt Kemp.

"It cost me," Ray said. "It cost me a run and it probably cost us the game there. If I can keep it 2-2 there in that inning, we come back with some momentum, you just never know."