Rangers Lose To D-backs

via Texas Rangers

PHOENIX — D-backs general manager Mike Hazen said one of the reasons he didn’t pursue a starting pitcher before Tuesday’s non-waiver Trade Deadline was because he had great confidence in his rotation.

Zack Godley showed why as he tossed seven outstanding innings Tuesday night in a 6-0 win over the Rangers at Chase Field.

The win gave the D-backs a split in the two-game series and vaulted them past the Dodgers by one-half game for first place in the National League West.

Godley (12-6) allowed two hits and a walk while matching a career high with 10 strikeouts.

“Very well-played game in a lot of different areas, but I thought the whole thing was set up by Zack Godley,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “Seemed like he was just charging after them in every inning that he could. Just doing a great job sequencing, locating — great outing and we needed it.”

It was a good outing that Godley needed as well.

The previous two starts for the right-hander were not ideal as Godley had some trouble throwing to bases and allowed eight runs over 10 2/3 innings.

Tuesday, though, he looked dominant as he was able to land his put-away curveball.

“I thought it was the fastball command, the sinker/cutter combination,” Lovullo said. “He was getting ahead of everybody. He seemed to be very comfortable, getting a leadoff hitter out per inning. I think that’s the key for every pitcher and it doesn’t happen sometimes.”

Both Lovullo and Godley said it was likely the pitcher’s best performance of the year or at least since he shut out the Giants for seven innings while striking out nine April 9.

“I think since the month of April this is probably my best outing,” Godley said. “I felt good, I located my pitches really well and getting some weak contact, which is awesome. I just had a good feel for all of my pitches.”

The D-backs offense gave the right-hander plenty of support, collecting seven hits off Texas starter Bartolo Colon (5-10).

A.J. Pollock got the scoring started with a solo homer in the first while Paul Goldschmidt had an RBI double in the third and Nick Ahmed added a two-run double in the fourth.

That was more than enough for Godley, who along with Zack Greinke, Patrick Corbin, Robbie Ray and Clay Buchholz forms a rotation that Hazen believes is strong enough to get his club to a second straight postseason appearance.

With that in mind, the GM instead pursued bullpen help in the form of Brad Ziegler and Jake Diekman.

“We have a pretty high functioning rotation, in our opinion,” Hazen said. “One through five, it’s pretty deep.”

 

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