Jun 17, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Godley (52) pitches during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Photo Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
PHILADELPHIA — The Arizona Diamondbacks scored four times in the seventh inning and received a strong outing from Zack Godley to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-1, on Saturday evening.
Arizona (43-26) has won six straight while the Phillies (22-45) sustained their 10th loss in 11 games.
With the score tied at 1, the Diamondbacks took advantage of Philadelphia’s lack of middle relief strength to tilt the contest in the seventh.
Pitcher Jorge De La Rosa, who relieved Godley in the bottom of the sixth, attempted a sacrifice bunt with no outs and a runner on first. Catcher Andrew Knapp made a poor choice trying to cut down the runner at second base and the Phillies came away with no outs on the play.
That opened the door for Daniel Descalso, who knocked an RBI single through the hole on the right side after battling in a seven-pitch at-bat.
The crushing blow came two batters later, when Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt got a first-pitch hanging curveball from Casey Fien — the second pitcher the Phillies used in the inning — and split the gap in left-center field for a two-run double.
The Diamondbacks made it 5-1 on a Brandon Drury single.
De La Rosa (3-1) was credited with the win after facing just one batter. Edubray Ramos (0-4) took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits without retiring a batter.
Godley posted a career-high eight strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed one run on five hits and walked three.
Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff also surrendered one run. He labored early and settled down in his later innings, pitching six total. He allowed five hits, walked three and struck out a pair.
Arizona, which opened the scoring on a Jake Lamb RBI single in the third inning, had a chance to add on to its lead in the sixth. With runners on second and third and one out, catcher Chris Iannetta drove an Eickhoff slider to left field. Aaron Altherr camped under it in left and delivered a strike to cut down Lamb at home and keep the Arizona lead at 1-0.
The Phillies tied it in the bottom of the inning on Knapp’s sacrifice fly.
Philadelphia twice had two runners in scoring position with two outs, in the third and fourth innings, but failed to come away with runs. The Phillies, after starting the season 11-9, have lost 36 of 47.
The game started 50 minutes late due to a rain delay.
NOTES: RHP Jerad Eickhoff became the first Phillies starting pitcher since 1997 (Matt Beech) to go winless in his first 14 starts. Beech was winless in his first 15. … Arizona OF A.J. Pollock (strained right groin) made a rehab appearance at Triple-A Reno Saturday. He was placed on the disabled list on May 15. … Phillies 1B Tommy Joseph extended his hitting streak to 13 games. … LHP Robbie Ray (7-3, 2.62 ERA) takes the mound riding five straight wins Sunday against Phillies righty Ben Lively (1-1, 3.00) in a 1:35 p.m. ET start in Philadelphia.
