Arizona Diamondbacks: Not at his best, Robbie Ray guts out first win of season

 Lefty Robbie Ray of the Arizona Diamondbacks was not effective in his initial start of the season.

After a few aberrations in Spring training, lefty Robbie Ray of the Arizona Diamondbacks thought he addressed and improved faulty mechanics. After a disastrous start against the Angels on March 20, Ray told Call to the Pen that whatever maladies he suffered, “it’s an easy fix” he said at the time.

That effort was compounded by an equally ruinous outing against the Dodgers on March 3. Both wasted two costly starts needed for preparation.

Promise to make a few adjustments in very fixable situations, Ray’s opening outing of the season was filled with pitfalls, roadblocks and a mirror-image of those forgettable spring starts. Not even a shadow of his stellar accomplishments of last season, the lefty from Brentwood, Tenn lasted five innings Friday night and that’s minimum required for a victory.

In the end, Ray, despite this undistinguished outing, managed to hang around enough and gained a 9-8 victory over the Colorado Rockies before 23,937 Friday night in Chase Field.

From the start, Ray was uncharacteristically wild and, similar to what he experienced in several spring training games. Repeatedly, the ball tended to sail and carry out of the strike zone with frequency. Missing high to most hitters, Ray managed to hit the strike zone on first pitches to several hitters but tended to get behind. Of the first nine hitters he faced, Ray struck the strike zone against six batters. In this sequence, he walked two and surrendered a two-run homer to Ian Desmond in the second.

Afterward, Ray told Call to the Pen the effort was obviously not his best, but a win is a win.

"“That’s a tough line-up and they put some good swings on the ball,” he said. “Just too many walks and they made me pay for it. Guys got on base and they did damage when guys were on. Just have to limit that and be better.”"

From his vantage, manager Torey Lovullo lauded the effort and eventually, the final result. Telling Call to the Pen the experience was not vintage Ray, but the bottom line demonstrated character and strength.

"“Robbie didn’t have his best stuff, gutted it out, and picked up the win,” he said. “He was in a fist-fight out there and never caught a rhythm.”"

The outing was clearly a deviation for Ray. At least, that’s one conclusion which can be drawn from his stellar season of a year ago.

In recording a 2.89 ERA in 28 starts, the most runs allowed in one game was five and that occurred during three outings. Against the Rockies on Friday night, Ray could not hold leads of 5-0 and 7-2, and in the fourth, the Rockies managed to tie with a five-spot. In that frame, Ray labored through a 26-pitch inning and ended with 85 pitches, 52 for strikes. For his five innings of work, Ray allowed seven hits, seven runs, six earned, walked three and allowed three home runs.

Though the outing Friday night was similar to those two-marque spring starts against the Dodgers and Angels, Ray told Call to the Pen that recent difficulties are clearly fixable.

"“There are few things I need to work on during my bullpen sessions,” he said. “It’s easy to figure out.”"

When the Diamondbacks open their first road trip of the season next weekend, that would be Ray’s next start in St. Louis.

Any concern?

Through the first two games, Paul Goldschmidt put in the ball in play only once in nine at-bats. That was on opening night when he flied to center with one out in the third. Otherwise, Goldschmidt walked five times and struck out three times. In the opening two games, Goldschmidt is officially 0-for-4 with five walks.

No, no concerns, Lovullo told Call to the Pen. Goldschmidt remains one of the elite players in the game and there is no worry on the part of his manager.

"“We look at on-base percentage, and not batting average,” Lovullo said. “We all know that Hurricane Goldschmidt is looming.”"

In the record books …

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The five RBIs by shortstop Nick Ahmed Friday night against the Rockies established a personal best. His previous mark of four in a game was set in a game against the Dodgers last April 15.

The club mark for most RBIs in a game is nine held by Erubiel Durazo against the Phillies on May 17, 2002. He also tied a franchise mark for most RBIs by a shortstop in one game and that was set by Stephen Drew on April 28, 2011 against the Chicago Cubs.

In the trainer’s room …

Pitchers Randall Delgado and Shelby Miller continue to improve through their rehab programs. That’s the assessment manager Torey Lovullo gave to Call to the Pen before Friday’s game with the Rockies in Chase Field.

Both are currently on the disabled list. Delgado is out with a left oblique strain and Miller is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Both Delgado and Miller threw a bullpen session on Friday, and Lovullo told Call to the Pen, “both bullpens were good and aggressive.” The forecast for Delgado is a simulated game Tuesday, and Miller continues his protracted road back to competitive baseball.

At this point, Lovullo discounted a timetable for a rehab assignment for Delgado or any schedule to rejoin his teammates in the Arizona bullpen.

If his rehab program continues to progress to the satisfaction of the medical staff, Miller is on track to join the Diamondbacks sometime in July.

The series with the Rockies concludes Saturday with a night game Zack Greinke, battling a groin injury, makes his season debut and draws right-hander German Marquez as his mound opponent.

Next: Ray gives credit to Randy Johnson for guidance

Then, the Dodgers come in for three and that concludes the opening homestand of the season for Diamondbacks. In the series opener Monday night, look for Taijuan Walker to face lefty Hyun-Jin-Ryu. On Tuesday night, Zack Godley is scheduled against Clayton Kershaw. In the series finale Wednesday afternoon, this match-up features a pair of lefties, Patrick Corbin against Alex Wood.