Defensive gem by Herrmann preserves lead

The Diamondbacks face the Phillies at home at 7:10 p.m. on Saturday. Check back throughout the game for updates

Play of the game

It won’t be noted in the box score but Arizona catcher Chriss Herrmann’s terrific defensive play in the top of the seventh may have saved the game for the Diamondbacks.

Robbie Ray loaded the bases with one out, bringing in Archie Bradley. Philadelphia outfielder Aaron Altherr grounded to Jake Lamb at third and Lamb threw home to get the lead runner. But his throw was wide of home plate on the first base side and Herrmann somehow made a diving catch while sliding his foot across the plate to get the out.

Bradley followed with a strikeout of Tommy Joseph to end the inning.

Ray’s final line: 6 1/3 innings, 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts, one hit by pitch, 109 pitches

Arizona breaks it open

The Diamondbacks scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to open up a 6-2 lead. After Jake Lamb’s solo homer, Chris Herrmann delivered an RBI single and with the bases loaded David Peralta was hit by a pitch, scoring Daniel Descalso.

Robbie Ray, who has retired six straight, is one to pitch the seventh inning. He’s at 93 pitches.

D-Backs open up lead

Arizona third baseman Jake Lamb led off the sixth inning with a solo homer, his 17th of the year, to give the Diamondbacks a 4-2 lead. Two batters later Philadelphia starter Ben Lively was lifted with one out and Chris Owings on second.

Robbie Ray, despite some control issues, has pitched six strong innings, giving up just four hits and two earned runs.

Back and forth

The Phillies took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Ray walked eighth-place hitter Cameron Rupp – his fourth walk of the game – and then pitcher Ben Lively swung at the first pitch he saw from Ray and deposited the 95 mph fastball over the right field fence. It was Lively’s first career home run.

Arizona tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Paul Goldschmidt and Jake Lamb led off the inning with back-to-back singles, advanced on a bunt attempt by Chris Owings and then Brandon Drury delivered with his second RBI ground out of the game.

D-Backs draw first blood

The Diamondbacks have a 1-0 lead over the Phillies after three innings. Chris Owings scored Arizona’s only run after Philadelphia center fielder Odubel Herrera dropped his long fly ball and Owings wound up on third. He scored on an RBI groundout by Brandon Drury.

Arizona starter Robbie Ray has struggled with his control – he’s walked three batters, one intentionally – but he got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning by striking out Philadelphia pitcher Ben Lively and then ended another threat in the third by inducing a fly ball out from Maikel Franco.

Starting rotation set

There’s been some confusion as to the Diamondbacks’ rotation the next few days, but manager Torey Lovullo cleared everything up before Saturday’s game against Philadelphia.

After Randall Delgado gets a spot start Sunday the rest of the rotation will fall back into place with an extra day’s rest. So it will be Zack Greinke on Monday, followed by Taijuan Walker, Zack Godley, Patrick Corbin and Robbie Ray.

Lovullo hinted that Sunday could be Delgado’s final start of the season.

“The reason why he came up this time is he’s still stretched out and we wanted to take advantage of his ability to throw 75 to 85 pitches,” Lovullo said. “We feel like that might not last much longer, so while he still had the starter stamina, we wanted to allow him to be inserted and give everybody the rest.

“Will it happen again? I can’t predict that, but once he starts he’s going to fall back in the bullpen and be used as a normal bullpen piece for the rest of the year.”

Bracho back up

After optioning outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker to Triple-A Renom on Friday, the Diamondbacks made a corresponding move Saturday, calling up reliever Silvino Bracho.

Lovullo said an extra bullpen arm was needed with Delgado getting the start Sunday.

Injury updates

Lovullo said left fielder Yasmany Tomas (groin) ran the bases Saturday and soon will take batting practice but that there’s no timetable for a rehabilitation assignment … Center fielder A.J. Pollock (quad) is expected to play a game Sunday with Triple-A Reno, and Lovullo reiterated that Pollock might need only 10 to 15 at-bats before rejoining the Diamondbacks.

Lineup

1. Gregor Blanco CF

2. David Peralta RF

3. Paul Goldschmidt 1B

4. Jake Lamb 3B

5. Chris Owings SS

6. Brandon Drury 2B

7. Daniel Descalso LF

8. Chris Herrmann C

9. Robbie Ray P

Pregame notes

Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (7-3, 2.87) vs. Phillies RHP Ben Lively (1-1, 3.33)

Robbie Ray is 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA with 55 strikeouts against 13 walks in his last six starts. The Diamondbacks have won in 10 of his last 14 starts overall.

This is fourth career start against the Phillies. He is 1-1 with a 5.19 career ERA against them. Had a major league-best 27.2-inning scoreless streak from May 14 through June 6.

This will be Lively’s fifth start for the Phillies and although he’s only allowed three earned runs in each of his last three starts, Philadelphia lost all three games. That included a 5-4 defeat to the Diamondbacks his last time out in which he allowed three runs on eight hits over six innings.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Leits out: Phillies starter confounds potent Diamondbacks offense

PREGAME READING: Chris Owings a key cog for Diamondbacks wherever he plays

MORE: J.J. Hoover placed on DL, Rubby De La Rosa recalled

Saturday’s game

Phillies at Diamondbacks

When: 7:10 p.m.

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

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

Coming up

Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Randall Delgado (1-1, 3.48) vs. Phillies RHP Jeremy Hellickson (5-5. 4.61).

Monday: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (8-4, 3.14) vs. Phillies RHP Nick Pivetta (1-3, 4.46).

Tuesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m. RHP Zack Godley (3-1, 2.53) vs. Cardinals RHP Carlos Martinez (6-6, 2.87).