Robbie Ray departs with D-Backs trailing Pirates

The Diamondbacks look to win the weekend home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. Stay with this page for updates and analysis throughout the matchup.

Goldy’s bomb

Paul Goldschmidt launched a 453-foot homer off the video board in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 4-3. Longtime observers of the Diamondbacks could only remember Richie Sexson hitting one higher up on the board. 

Ray departs after stressful 4 IP

Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray lasted just four innings on Sunday, departing for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fourth with the Diamondbacks trailing 4-2.

Ray had a rocky performance from the beginning. The Pirates loaded the bases in the first on a single, hit by pitch and a walk, but Ray managed to avoid much damage, escaping with just one run allowed.

He dodged trouble entirely in the second, pitching around a pair of baserunners, but wasn’t as fortunate in the third, an inning in which the Pirates connected for a pair of home runs to grab the lead.

Andrew McCutchen led off the inning with a solo homer, and Josh Bell added a tie-breaking, two-run shot to give the Pirates a 4-2 lead.

Ray needed 27 pitches in the first, 23 in the second and 26 in the third. His final inning was his easiest; he needed 12 pitches to get out of the fourth.

His final line: four innings, six hits, four runs (all earned), three walks, two strikeouts.

Ray struggling with control, but Goldy blast gives D-Backs lead

The Diamondbacks took a 2-1 lead after two innings despite a so-far shaky outing from starter Robbie Ray, who already has walked three batters and hit another. Ray has thrown 51 pitches in two innings and it could have been worse; center fielder A.J. Pollock and David Peralta ran into each other chasing down a deep drive by Pittsburgh third baseman Josh Harrison, but Pollock held on for the final out of the second inning.

Paul Goldschmidt hit his ninth homer of the season, a two-run shot, to give Arizona a 2-1 lead.

D-Backs place Iannetta on 7-day concussion DL

The Diamondbacks placed catcher Chris Iannetta on the 7-day concussion disabled list on Sunday morning, a move that comes two days after he was struck in the face by a 93 mph fastball from Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Johnny Barbato.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since the inury, Iannetta said on Sunday he had passed the initial round of concussion tests, but the club had planned to run him through more tests. The roster move was announced about 20 minutes before Sunday’s game against the Pirates.

Though Iannetta will be out until at least next weekend, he said he felt fortunate to escape more serious injury.

“I got lucky on all accounts,” said Iannetta, his upper lip swollen and stitched up. “It could have been a lot worse than it really was.”

In a corresponding move, the Diamondbacks recalled right-hander Silvino Bracho from Triple-A Reno.

Iannetta, who was struck in the face in the seventh inning on Friday night, said he responded good-naturedly to a text message from Barbato on Friday night.

“He said, ‘I’m sorry. No one feels worse than me,’ ” Iannetta said. “I said, ‘It happens. Keep your front shoulder closed next time. The ball won’t sail as much.’ It was nice of him to reach out.”

He said he’ll eventually need to have “two or three” damaged teeth repaired, but he said he believes the fractured bone he was told he had in his nose likely resulted from a previous injury, perhaps from when he was hit by a baseball at age 13.

“(The doctor) was pressing on the spots where he said it was fractured and I didn’t feel anything,” Iannetta said. “… It could have happened then and it just never healed and showed up on the scan. It doesn’t hurt, so I’m guessing it’s old.”

Iannetta saw sliders from Barbato in the first three pitches of his at-bat before being struck by the up-and-in fastball. He said he doesn’t remember much about the pitch, but he recalls trying to make sure he tracked it in case it was another slider.

“And by the time I guess I realized it was a fastball it was a little too late to get out of the way,” Iannetta said. “I think I started getting out of the way but not nearly enough in time.”

RELATED: Taijuan Walker has rough night in Diamondbacks’ loss to Pirates

Drury gets a day off

Hot-hitting second baseman Brandon Drury was out of the lineup on Sunday, the latest Diamondbacks regular to be given a day off by manager Torey Lovullo, who continues to be progressive in providing rest for his regular players.

“It’s tough to take him out of the lineup, but rest is important to everybody on this team,” Lovullo said. “It’s been something that I’ve been following throughout the course of the year. The players are pushing back because they want to play – and that’s a credit to them – but this is part of the plan for everybody to stay strong, stay fresh throughout the course of the year.”

Drury went just 1 for 4 on Saturday evening but is 9 for 20 with four doubles and two homers in five games on the homestand. He leads the majors with a .437 average (31 for 71) in home games.

Lineup

1. A.J. Pollock CF

2. David Peralta RF

3. Paul Goldschmidt 1B

4. Jake Lamb 3B

5. Chris Owings 2B

6. Chris Herrmann C

7. Nick Ahmed SS

8. Gregor Blanco LF

9. Robbie Ray P

Pregame notes

Robbie Ray struggled his last time out, giving up five runs in five innings against the Tigers; he also walked five batters in the loss.

In four career starts against the Pirates, Ray has gone 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA. He’s tied for the fourth most strikeouts in the National League with 57.

Ivan Nova has given up more than two runs only once in his last five starts. He’s 1-2 on the road with a 2.45 ERA.

Through seven starts, Nova has walked only three while striking out 29; he was named the NL Pitcher of the Month for April.

Sunday’s game

Pirates at Diamondbacks

When: 1:10 p.m.

Where: Chase Field (Roof hotline: 602-462-6262).

Pitchers: Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-3, 4.14) vs. Pirates RHP Ivan Nova (3-3, 2.23).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Coming up

Monday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (1-0, 2.25) v. Mets RHP Zack Wheeler (2-2, 4.18).

Tuesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (4-2, 2.79) vs. Mets LHP Tommy Milone (1-0, 5.88).

Wednesday: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (3-4, 4.17) vs. Mets RHP Matt Harvey (2-3, 5.63).