D-Backs roll over Rangers

*Photo from AZ Snake Pit*

   The Arizona Diamondbacks sure made the pitching of the Texas Rangers look silly. Eduardo Escobar homered twice, and the D-Backs bats tied a franchise hit record as they steamrolled the Rangers 19-4. The 19 runs were Arizona's most in a game since scoring 20 against San Diego last July. Escobar's first homer started a 7 run first inning against Texas starter Jesse Chavez, who only pitched 2/3 of an inning. 

   Escobar started the onslaught by homering to right field for a 2 run bomb. Jake Lamb had an RBI double, and then Nick Ahmed singled in a run, followed by an RBI single from Carson Kelly and an RBI double by Ketel Marte. In the second, Ahmed hit a sac fly, Kevin Cron whacked a 3 run shot, and Jarrod Dyson homered to right to make it 12-0 D-Backs. The Rangers got three back in the bottom of the third on a two run homer by Danny Santana and a solo shot by Logan Forsythe. In the 3rd, Lamb doubled in a run, and Cron was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 14-3. In the 6th, Escobar hit a 3 run jack, and Santana got Texas another run to make it 17-4. In the 7th, Tim Locastro doubled in a run, and Kelly homered in the 9th to make it 19-4. 

   Robbie Ray picked up the win for Arizona, going 6 innings and allowing 4 runs on 6 hits. Ray has won all of his starts in July. Ray said after the game that ''I thought I pitched pretty well, a couple unfortunate home runs. You saw the way the ball was flying tonight.'' The teams combined for 8 home runs, with 5 coming in the first two innings. By winning both games against Texas, Arizona is still in the thick of the NL playoff race. The Rangers have lost 4 straight games and the Boston Red Sox have surpassed them in the race for the AL wild card. Texas is now 5 games back.

   The D-Backs return home to start a 4 game series with the Milwaukee Brewers. Merrill Kelly will draw the start for Arizona against Zach Davies. After a day off, the Rangers welcome the Houston Astros into town. Mike Minor will start for Texas against Houston's Justin Verlander.