D-backs squander stellar effort by Ray, fall to Brewers
MILWAUKEE -- Chip Hale liked Robbie Ray' start. The Arizona manager was none too happy with his bullpen.
Robbie Ray fanned a career-high 11, but Zach Davies pitched 6 1/3 effective innings, Hernan Perez hit a two-run homer, singled and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Diamondbacks 6-4 on Thursday.
"He had stuff that was good enough to win the game," Hale said about Ray. "He pitched well enough to win the game. He gave up the lead 3-2, but other than that it was one itch, the home run. He had almost no-hit type stuff today. Impressive, but again, it's about winning."
The 24-year-old left-hander extended the longest streak in the majors this season to 20 consecutive starts with at least five strikeouts. It was his first career start against the Brewers.
Ray (5-10) retired five straight, including the side in second, but made two mistakes with two outs in the third. Scooter Gennett singled and Perez followed with a home run that tied the score at 2. Ray regrouped and retired the next eight batters before faltering with two out in the sixth.
"I felt great," Ray said. "I was pitching in and out with my fastball. Getting ahead of guys and putting them away. My breaking stuff was really good today, too."
With one out, Perez singled and Chris Carter walked. After Ray struck out Nieuwenhuis for the third time, Martin Maldonado ended Ray's 21st start with an RBI single that scored Perez.
If Ray could have gone further was a question he answered himself.
"If I didn't want to come out of the game, I should have gotten those two first guys out," Ray said. "That's just the way it is. I made a good pitch to Maldonado. He just kind of poked it out there, didn't really get a good bat on it."
Hale expected the bullpen to keep it close, and that didn't happen.
"I took him (Ray) out after he gave up the lead and our bullpen's got to be able to hold it," Hale said. "(Enrique) Burgos has got to be able to get that guy out and get us in the dugout."
Keon Broxton followed with a two-run double off Burgos.
The Brewers added a run when Kirk Nieuwenhuis homered off Tyler Clippard leading off the eighth.
If the bullpen doesn't get squared away, Hale hinted at some changes.
"We have got to find some guys out of our bullpen that are going to stop the bleeding, shut it down," Hale said. "It's imperative. If we can't find them here, we're going to have to go elsewhere and give other guys a chance."
The Diamondbacks didn't go quietly, though.
Michael Bourn's RBI single off Will Smith in the seventh and Rickie Weeks Jr. run-scoring base hit off Tyler Thornburg in the eighth pulled the Diamondbacks to 5-4.
Davies is now 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA with four walks and 17 strikeouts in four starts in July.
"He's had a bunch of starts like this," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "When he gets into a groove, he runs through the lineup pretty good."
Davies (8-4) allowed three runs --two earned-- on six hits. Facing the Diamondbacks for the first time, he walked one and struck out five.
Jeremy Jeffress pitched the ninth for his 24th save in 25 chances.
Arizona's Yasmany Tomas came in hitting .375 over his last eight games and stayed hot. His two-run ground-rule double with two out in the top of the first was his fifth double over that stretch.
Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun was scratched from the lineup due to right-side tightness.
PERALTA COMING BACK
After the game, the Diamondbacks optioned INF Mike Freeman to Triple-A Reno. However, no corresponding roster move was announced. Arizona is expected to activate OF David Peralta from the disabled list Friday. He's been out since June 14 with a lower back strain.
Freeman went 0-for-9 in eight games with the Diamondbacks. He struck out in the ninth inning Thursday.
GOLDSCHMIDT HOT
Paul Goldschmidt had two singles for Arizona, raising his batting average against Milwaukee to .432 (48-for-111) and .500 (34-for-68) at Miller Park.
TOMAS SIZZLING, TOO
Tomas is batting .389 (14-for-36) five doubles, four home runs and 10 RBIs in his last nine games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: 3B Jake Lamb struck out as a pinch hitter in the seventh and stayed in the game at third. He missed the previous two games with a bruised left hand. Hale said that Lamb would start Friday. ... OF Socrates Brito (fractured right toe) has gone 1 for 7 two rehab games with the AZL Diamondbacks.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Godley (3-1, 5.88 ERA) makes his second career appearance and first start against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
