Diamondbacks at Reds
Five hits usually aren't enough for a team to record a victory, even when it's facing a last-place club. The Arizona Diamondbacks hope for a better offensive effort when they visit the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series.
Arizona, which is tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West, registered four singles and a double while striking out 10 times in a 3-0 loss. Paul Goldschmidt has gone 6-for-19 during his four-game hitting streak after recording two of the Diamondbacks' hits in the opener of their nine-game road trip. Jose Peraza went 2-for-4 and scored a run in the victory for Cincinnati, which resides in the NL Central basement. The 24-year-old Venezuelan shortstop has hit safely in four straight contests and seven of his last eight, going 10-for-36 in that span.
TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (3-2, 4.92 ERA) vs. Reds RH Matt Harvey (5-7, 5.37)
Ray remained winless since June 27 when he settled for a no-decision against San Francisco on Sunday after allowing two runs on seven hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old Tennessean, who has gone 0-2 with a 5.74 ERA in seven turns during his drought, has posted a 2.57 ERA on the road this season but a 7.18 mark at home. Ray has made three career starts against Cincinnati, going 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA.
Harvey has lost his last two decisions, including a setback at Washington last Saturday in which he surrendered five runs and nine hits over four innings. The 29-year-old native of Connecticut has failed to last six frames in any of his last six turns after working at least that many in three of his previous four outings. Harvey is 3-1 with a 3.52 ERA in five career starts against Arizona - all while with the New York Mets.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks OF Steven Souza Jr. went 1-for-3 on Friday in his first game since crashing into the outfield wall against Philadelphia on Tuesday.
2. Cincinnati 3B Eugenio Suarez registered his 88th RBI in the series opener to tie Javier Baez of the Chicago Cubs for the NL lead.
3. Arizona 3B Deven Marrero, who hit .167 with seven RBIs in 49 games this season, was sent outright to Triple-A Reno on Friday after being activated from the disabled list and designated for assignment three days earlier.