#Dbacks Robbie Ray was pleased with his latest outing -- three shutout innings. pic.twitter.com/Ub8ORUccjI
— Chris Gabel (@Chris_Gabel) March 9, 2016
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Robbie Ray started the spring with a bit of a leg up to be the Diamondbacks' fifth starter and the left-handed has only strengthened his position since.
That continued Tuesday evening, when Ray threw three shutout innings in a 5-3 loss to the Angles at Salt River Fields.
"I'm seeing progress," said Ray, who struck out three and gave up two hits and a walk. "I'm getting better every time out, just fine tuning things."
THREE TAKEAWAYS
* Socrates Brito entered camp vying to be the team's fourth outfielder but he could be inching closer to grabbing the starter's job in left field. Manager Chip Hale didn't dismiss the possibility recently and Brito's torrid start -- a 3-for-3 day Tuesday lifted him to 6 for 9 this spring -- mixed with Yasmany Tomas' knee injury that kept him out for a third straight day only increases the 23-year-old's chances.
* Barring an injury, Brandon Drury is unlikely to make the team. But much like he did at the end of last season, Drury has shown he is ready to contribute should a need arise. The 23-year-old 2B/3B singled, doubled and stole a base against the Angels.
* Josh Collmenter, who at this time last year was preparing to start in Opening Day, gave up three runs on four hits, including a pair of home runs in the sixth. Collmenter gave up 18 homers last season, fourth most on the team.
-- Chris Gabel, FOX Sports Arizona
Manager Chip Hale likes the idea of competition in spring training. The fifth-starter's job is just that, he says. General Manager Dave Stewart, however, continually lists Ray among the four other pitches Hale already named to the rotation -- Zack Greinke, Patrick Corbin, Shelby Miller and Rubby De La Rosa.
Ray, for his part, has done nothing but solidify his standing. He has six strikeouts and three hits allowed in five innings. Archie Bradley and Zack Godley, Ray's primary competition at the start of camp, haven't quite kept up.
"It's just another day at the ballpark," Ray said when asked about competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster. "I just go out and do my job. I know what I need to do and I just go out and do it.
Pitch efficiency is a point of emphasis this spring for Ray, who needed 50 pitches to get through Tuesday's three innings. His change-up against a heavily right-handed Angels lineup helped in that.
"The main thing today was staying around the zone," he said. "I was able to get quick outs and work out of those big counts.
"All my pitches were working. I was pitching inside and (my) off-speed stuff I was happy with. It was breaking away and out of the zone."
