Sports

Gallardo's Scoreless Streak Ends In Rangers' 4-2 Loss

July 8, 2015 / 7:04 AM CDT / CBS Texas

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Yovani Gallardo wasn't sharp for most of Tuesday night's game.

The Texas Rangers' right-hander came in with 29 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings, a streak that ended on what he called a good pitch.

"I made a good cutter, and he just broke his bat," Gallardo said. "There's not much that I can do about that."

The broken-bat hit was Jake Lamb's single with two out in the fifth inning. It drove in the game's first two runs, ended Gallardo's streak at 33 1/3 innings and started the Arizona Diamondbacks on the way to a 4-2 victory over the Rangers.

"We were hitting the ball hard," Lamb said. "And then I come up and break my bat, don't hit the ball hard, and that's two RBIs. They say 'They even out,' and in that case they did."

Arizona rookie left-hander Robbie Ray took a shutout into the eighth inning.

"He's opened my eyes," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. "I'm really excited about his future because he's going to get a better breaking ball and trust his changeup more and he's going to have three pitches." He's going to be a pretty good pitcher for us."

Ray (3-4) pitched four-hit ball with one walk over a career-high 7 2/3 innings. He didn't give up a hit until Elvis Andrus' single with two outs in the fifth.

"I think the finish on the fastball is what got us," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.

Lamb went 3 for 4 with a walk and Paul Goldschmidt had two hits, including an RBI single in the eighth.

The Rangers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of eighth as Arizona right fielder Yasmany Tomas missed Andrus' line drive for a three-base error and Andrus scored on Shin-Soo Choo's sacrifice fly. Delino DeShields doubled with two outs and scored on Rougned Odor's single, chasing Ray.

Brad Ziegler pitched a perfect ninth inning for his career high-tying 13th save in 15 opportunities.

The Diamondbacks won for the fourth time in five games and handed Texas its fourth straight loss.

Rangers pitchers have allowed 37 runs and 60 hits during the losing streak.

Gallardo allowed eight hits and five walks to Arizona, which left 13 runners on base.

The Diamondbacks put their first two batters on base in both the second and fourth innings. Texas turned double plays on balls in the air to stop both threats.

"My mechanics were a little off," Gallardo said. "I made pitches whenever I had to. The guys made some double plays, some good plays, behind me."

What about the streak?

"It was fun, that's for sure," he said. "It's just a matter of starting up another one."

STREAKING

Gallardo's scoreless streak was the third-longest in franchise history, trailing Kenny Rogers' 39-inning stretch in 1993 and Charlie Hough's 36 innings in 1983.

GOING SOUTH VS. SOUTHPAWS

The Rangers have lost four in a row and seven of eight against left-handers, who have had 14 quality starts in 15 games since June 1. 1B Mitch Moreland, one of five lefty batters in Texas' lineup, said, "Keep going up there and keep (grinding) out at-bats, whether it's a lefty or a righty. You've just got to slow it down and try to get back on track."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rangers: LF Josh Hamilton returned to the lineup after missing two games because of a strained hip muscle. ... LHP Derek Holland (strained shoulder), on when he would start throwing against batters: "You guys will all know before I do."

UP NEXT

Rangers: LHP Matt Harrison is scheduled to make his first major league appearance since May 13, 2014. He underwent spinal fusion in June 2014. In six injury-rehab starts this season, Harrison went 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA. He was won only one major league game since going 18-11 in 2012. Harrison is 0-1 in two starts vs. Arizona.

Diamondbacks: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (6-5, 5.06 ERA) is 0-3 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts against Texas.

Arizona Diamondbacks