D-backs ride pitching to eke out series win over Dodgers
PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks responded from their initial post-All-Star break performance in the least likely of ways.
After they gave up 13 runs to the Dodgers on Friday, the D-backs held L.A. to just six runs over the weekend -- including a run of 16 scoreless innings for the two days -- to take the series with Sunday's 6-5 victory that got a little too close for comfort in the ninth inning.
"Especially after that first one, it was an ugly one," said Jake Lamb, who played the role of hero on Saturday and had a big part in the series finale as well. "Our pitching really stepped up and obviously it's huge to get the series."
Robbie Ray worked out of multiple tight spots to hold the Dodgers to four hits in seven shutout innings. Ray struck out seven to bring his streak of at least five strikeouts in a start to 18, the longest in the majors this season.
"The goal is to win every series and we came out of the second half and won this one," Ray said. "Archie (Bradley) went out and pitched really well yesterday. He established the tone, I think was the main thing and that's something we wanted to roll into today to keep it going."
Ray got out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the second when he struck out A.J. Ellis and Zach Walters before he got Kenta Maeda to fly out. Ray also induced double play grounders in the third and sixth to thwart any possible rally.
"Obviously when you get two for one it's huge," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "All the pitches he had to use to get out of the (bases-loaded) jam he kind of got back with the double plays.
"He was dominating with his fastball again. ... It's all based on our starting pitching. If they give us the outing, I think we have the offense to beat teams."
Ray's seven shutout innings followed the nine Bradley and the D-backs bullpen threw in Saturday's 12-inning win.
The Dodgers finally broke through on Justin Turner's two-run homer off Daniel Hudson in the eighth.
Turner also brought in two runs as part of a three-run ninth against Tyler Clippard before Jake Barrett struck out Yasiel Puig and Chris Taylor to strand the tying run at third base.
Barrett admitted his stress level was high with the game on the line.
"I was trying my best to not think about the situation," Barrett said after he earned his second career save. "I was just trying to throw my best pitches."
Both Puig and Taylor went down swinging on Barrett's slider that tailed away from the right-handed hitters.
"He threw some nasty pitches to Puig and Taylor," Hale said. "That was huge for him. He's going to get chances at that spot. Right now, Clip is out guy, we'll go back to him on Tuesday, but if you're winning games like we plan on doing your closer can't pitch every night. So Jake would be an option for us for sure."
The D-backs built their lead with three runs in the first -- on an RBI single from Lamb and a two-run double by Brandon Drury -- against Maeda. Lamb added on with his 21st home run of the season in the third and Michael Bourn scored Ray with a double in the fifth.
Jean Segura scored on a wild pitch in the seventh that pushed the lead to 6-0 but proved to be the difference after the Dodgers rallied in the final two innings.
