• Diamondbacks fall 2-1 to Reds

    Diamondbacks fall 2-1 to Reds

  • Lovullo on the Diamondbacks' loss to the Reds

    Lovullo on the Diamondbacks’ loss to the Reds

  • Diamondbacks hold off Reds for 6-3 win

    Diamondbacks hold off Reds for 6-3 win

  • Shot Clock: 1 more chance for D-Backs' Rodney?

    Shot Clock: 1 more chance for D-Backs’ Rodney?

  • Fernando Rodney after blown save vs. Dodgers

    Fernando Rodney after blown save vs. Dodgers

  • Torey Lovullo after Dodgers sweep D-Backs in LA

    Torey Lovullo after Dodgers sweep D-Backs in LA

  • Robbie Ray on his outing, tough loss vs. Dodgers

    Robbie Ray on his outing, tough loss vs. Dodgers

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' second consecutive loss in LA

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ second consecutive loss in LA

  • Zack Godley talks about his outing vs. Dodgers.

    Zack Godley talks about his outing vs. Dodgers.

  • Gregor Blanco after D-Backs' loss to Dodgers

    Gregor Blanco after D-Backs’ loss to Dodgers

  • Shot Clock: How should Suns, D-Backs prioritize improvement?

    Shot Clock: How should Suns, D-Backs prioritize improvement?

  • Chris Owings on Kershaw's night, D-Backs' late push

    Chris Owings on Kershaw’s night, D-Backs’ late push

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' late push in loss vs. Dodgers

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ late push in loss vs. Dodgers

  • Dodgers vs D-Backs preview

    Dodgers vs D-Backs preview

  • Lovullo, Marte, Walker discuss D-Backs' walk-off win

    Lovullo, Marte, Walker discuss D-Backs’ walk-off win

  • Four Diamondbacks react to making NL All-Star team

    Four Diamondbacks react to making NL All-Star team

  • Archie Bradley on D-Backs' win over Rockies

    Archie Bradley on D-Backs’ win over Rockies

  • Zack Greinke on his effective outing vs. Rockies

    Zack Greinke on his effective outing vs. Rockies

  • Robbie Ray on his outing in loss vs. Rockies

    Robbie Ray on his outing in loss vs. Rockies

  • Chris Owings homers twice in loss to Rockies

    Chris Owings homers twice in loss to Rockies

  • Torey Lovullo talks loss to Cardinals

    Torey Lovullo talks loss to Cardinals

  • D-Backs GM on Chase Field humidor being pushed back

    D-Backs GM on Chase Field humidor being pushed back

  • Lovullo, Godley reflect on D-Backs' close loss

    Lovullo, Godley reflect on D-Backs’ close loss

  • Tony La Russa reflects on his baseball life

    Tony La Russa reflects on his baseball life

  • Torey Lovullo shares Tomas, Pollock, Ahmed injury updates

    Torey Lovullo shares Tomas, Pollock, Ahmed injury updates

  • Chris Herrmann walks it off for D-Backs

    Chris Herrmann walks it off for D-Backs

  • D-Backs' Torey Lovullo: "They fight until the final out"

    D-Backs’ Torey Lovullo: “They fight until the final out”

  • Chris Herrmann on first career leadoff home run

    Chris Herrmann on first career leadoff home run

  • Zack Greinke on outing vs. Phillies

    Zack Greinke on outing vs. Phillies

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' offensive execution in win

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ offensive execution in win

  • Diamondbacks-Phillies recap - June 26

    Diamondbacks-Phillies recap – June 26

  • Diamondbacks walk off Philies in extra innings

    Diamondbacks walk off Philies in extra innings

  • Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Philadelphia Phillies | June 25, 2017

    Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Philadelphia Phillies | June 25, 2017

  • Ray on his outing against the Phillies

    Ray on his outing against the Phillies

  • Torey Lovullo on Diamondbacks' loss to Phillies

    Torey Lovullo on Diamondbacks’ loss to Phillies

  • Lovullo discusses the Diamondbacks' win over the Phillies

    Lovullo discusses the Diamondbacks’ win over the Phillies

  • Torey Lovullo after D-Backs win series vs. Rockies

    Torey Lovullo after D-Backs win series vs. Rockies

  • Paul Goldschmidt on D-Backs' offensive outburst

    Paul Goldschmidt on D-Backs’ offensive outburst

  • Zack Godley on strong outing at Coors Field

    Zack Godley on strong outing at Coors Field

  • D-Backs' Taijuan Walker on win over Rockies

    D-Backs’ Taijuan Walker on win over Rockies

  • Torey Lovullo after blowout win vs. Rockies

    Torey Lovullo after blowout win vs. Rockies

  • Torey Lovullo on decision to stick with Zack Greinke

    Torey Lovullo on decision to stick with Zack Greinke

  • Zack Greinke after loss vs. Rockies

    Zack Greinke after loss vs. Rockies

  • D-Backs suffer tough loss in Denver

    D-Backs suffer tough loss in Denver

  • Shot Clock: D-Backs, Rockies set for showdown

    Shot Clock: D-Backs, Rockies set for showdown

  • Torey Lovullo on Rey Fuentes' go-ahead homer

    Torey Lovullo on Rey Fuentes’ go-ahead homer

  • Rey Fuentes on hitting his first career home run

    Rey Fuentes on hitting his first career home run

  • Robbie Ray on his outing vs. Phillies

    Robbie Ray on his outing vs. Phillies

  • Manager Torey Lovullo after D-Backs' sixth consecutive win

    Manager Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ sixth consecutive win

  • Jake Lamb on D-Backs' latest win over Phillies

    Jake Lamb on D-Backs’ latest win over Phillies

  • Torey Lovullo talks about his late father's support, guidance

    Torey Lovullo talks about his late father’s support, guidance

  • Torey Lovullo on his father's job in television

    Torey Lovullo on his father’s job in television

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' come-from-behind win over Phillies

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ come-from-behind win over Phillies

  • Gregor Blanco discusses his game-tying homer vs. Phillies

    Gregor Blanco discusses his game-tying homer vs. Phillies

  • Patrick Corbin on his performance vs. Phillies

    Patrick Corbin on his performance vs. Phillies

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' latest one-run win

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ latest one-run win

  • Taijuan Walker on his first outing back from the disabled list

    Taijuan Walker on his first outing back from the disabled list

  • David Peralta on his go-ahead homer in win over Tigers

    David Peralta on his go-ahead homer in win over Tigers

  • Torey Lovullo after D-Backs' win over Tigers

    Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ win over Tigers

  • Robbie Ray on D-Backs' win over Brewers

    Robbie Ray on D-Backs’ win over Brewers

  • Paul Goldschmidt on grand slam, offensive outburst

    Paul Goldschmidt on grand slam, offensive outburst

  • Godley on taking advantage of opportunity after D-Backs win

    Godley on taking advantage of opportunity after D-Backs win

  • Torey Lovullo after D-Backs' win over Brewers

    Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ win over Brewers

  • Randall Delgado on his rough outing against Brewers

    Randall Delgado on his rough outing against Brewers

  • Lovullo on Diamondbacks' loss to Brewers

    Lovullo on Diamondbacks’ loss to Brewers

  • Chris Iannetta on his career-high 7 RBIs vs. Padres

    Chris Iannetta on his career-high 7 RBIs vs. Padres

MIAMI — Paul Goldschmidt finally has some company at the All-Star Game this year – and he couldn’t be happier.

The Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman has been a National League representative each of the past five seasons, but he’s never had more than one teammate on the squad with him.

Until this year. The resurgent Diamondbacks have the third-best record in baseball, with fellow All-Stars Jake Lamb, Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray joining Goldschmidt in Miami.

“The way our team’s playing and being right in the playoff race, that’s where everyone wants to be,” Goldschmidt said. “You want to be in the playoffs and give yourself a chance to win the World Series. It’s been a good start but we know we have a long way to go.”

It’s been six years since the Diamondbacks last finished with a winning record and made the playoffs. Last year’s 93-loss season led to changes in both front office and the dugout for 2017.

“When (manager) Torey (Lovullo) came in the first day of spring training he said the outside world doesn’t believe in you guys after the season last year but we’re going to expect to win every time we step on the field,” Lamb said.

The biggest difference has been the pitching staff. After finishing with a major-league worst 5.09 ERA last season, the Diamondbacks have the second-best (3.41) this season.

“I feel like we’ve always had the talent there. It’s just a matter of staying healthy and guys kind of figuring it out,” Ray said. “It’s just a matter of everything coming together at the same time.”

The 25-year-old left-hander has been one of the most pleasant surprises.

He was dominant at times last season and was one of only a dozen pitchers to strike out at least 200 batters. However, his control has always been an issue.

Even though his walk rate has risen this season, Ray has overcome that by adding a curveball to his pitching repertoire.

“I always played catch with it, but I never used it in a game because I wasn’t confident in it,” Ray said.

“I felt like I needed another pitch and I’ve had that pitch my whole career, so I brought it back out.”

The results have been just what the Diamondbacks have needed – giving them a No. 2 starter to go with a bounce-back season Greinke, whom Lamb calls “a true ace.”

Ray has already tied his career high with eight wins and he ranks eighth in the majors with a 2.97 ERA, right behind Greinke’s 2.96.

Meanwhile, the offense is averaging more than five runs per game – one of only seven teams in the majors to do that over the first half.

Goldschmidt has been outstanding, as usual. He’s hitting .312 with 20 homers, 67 RBIs and a league-leading 73 runs scored.

“He’s a special baseball mind, and it’s not just hitting, it’s every part of the game,” Lamb said. “It’s been a huge help to my career to have him in the same clubhouse.”

Lamb has taken his game up a notch as well. He’s matched Goldschmidt’s homer and RBI totals exactly and provided the second half of a potent right-left combination in the middle of the lineup.

Like Ray, he showed some signs of a breakout last season. But this year, he’s put it all together.

“I just knew I could do better but my swing didn’t allow me to do so,” Lamb said. So he made some mechanical changes this offseason.

“My whole goal was to get my bat in the zone sooner and have a cleaner swing, bat path. I’ve done that so far and I’m just trying to continue to improve.”

That improvement from several key players has the Diamondbacks actually looking forward to what’s in store for the second half of the season.

“It’s disappointing when you’re struggling going into the second half and you can kinda see the writing on the wall,” said Goldschmidt, who’s reached the postseason just once in his major-league career – as a rookie in 2011.

“In the seasons when you know you have a chance, even if you’re behind a few games or you’re up, you’re looking forward to getting back out there competing.”

RELATED: Why the Diamondbacks were so successful in the season’s first half

MORE: Following series of losses, D-Backs aiming for rebound after All-Star break

RELATED: Diamondbacks’ A.J. Pollock returning to form ahead of All-Star break

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