• 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

  • Patrick Corbin on his effectiveness vs. Padres

    Patrick Corbin on his effectiveness vs. Padres

  • Chris Owings on Diamondbacks' offensive production with two outs

    Chris Owings on Diamondbacks’ offensive production with two outs

  • Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Diego Padres -- June 8, 2017

    Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Diego Padres — June 8, 2017

  • Greinke on his 'all right' outing in D-Backs' win

    Greinke on his ‘all right’ outing in D-Backs’ win

  • Lamb on big performance in D-Backs' win

    Lamb on big performance in D-Backs’ win

  • D-Backs beat Padres for another home win

    D-Backs beat Padres for another home win

  • Shot Clock: D-Backs train rolling; Durant new No. 1?

    Shot Clock: D-Backs train rolling; Durant new No. 1?

  • MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on rift between D-Backs, Maricopa County

    MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on rift between D-Backs, Maricopa County

  • D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo on no-hitter, road struggles

    D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo on no-hitter, road struggles

  • Chris Herrmann on Edinson Volquez's performance in no-hitter

    Chris Herrmann on Edinson Volquez’s performance in no-hitter

  • D-Backs' Rey Fuentes on Edinson Volquez's pitch mix in no-hitter

    D-Backs’ Rey Fuentes on Edinson Volquez’s pitch mix in no-hitter

  • Patrick Corbin after loss to Marlins

    Patrick Corbin after loss to Marlins

  • Torey Lovullo on Patrick Corbin's outing vs. Marlins

    Torey Lovullo on Patrick Corbin’s outing vs. Marlins

  • Torey Lovullo on Nick Ahmed, comeback win over Marlins

    Torey Lovullo on Nick Ahmed, comeback win over Marlins

  • David Peralta talks about Chris Owings' 'clutch' hit vs. Pirates

    David Peralta talks about Chris Owings’ ‘clutch’ hit vs. Pirates

  • Chris Owings on D-Backs' extra-inning win in Pittsburgh

    Chris Owings on D-Backs’ extra-inning win in Pittsburgh

  • Torey Lovullo on 'character win' in Pittsburgh

    Torey Lovullo on ‘character win’ in Pittsburgh

  • Robbie Ray on postgame celebration after shutout vs. Pirates

    Robbie Ray on postgame celebration after shutout vs. Pirates

  • Torey Lovullo on Robbie Ray's shutout of Pirates

    Torey Lovullo on Robbie Ray’s shutout of Pirates

  • Chris Herrmann on Robbie Ray's 'outstanding' outing vs. Pirates

    Chris Herrmann on Robbie Ray’s ‘outstanding’ outing vs. Pirates

  • Shot Clock: Winless weekend with D-Backs

    Shot Clock: Winless weekend with D-Backs

  • Diamondbacks' Chris Iannetta on his latest clutch homer

    Diamondbacks’ Chris Iannetta on his latest clutch homer

  • Torey Lovullo on Diamondbacks' loss to the Pirates

    Torey Lovullo on Diamondbacks’ loss to the Pirates

  • Archie Bradley after walkoff loss to Pirates

    Archie Bradley after walkoff loss to Pirates

  • Torey Lovullo on Patrick Corbin's outing, loss to Brewers

    Torey Lovullo on Patrick Corbin’s outing, loss to Brewers

  • Patrick Corbin on his outing vs. Brewers

    Patrick Corbin on his outing vs. Brewers

  • Zack Greinke on his outing in loss to Brewers

    Zack Greinke on his outing in loss to Brewers

  • Torey Lovullo on loss to Brewers, Chase Anderson

    Torey Lovullo on loss to Brewers, Chase Anderson

  • Paul Goldschmidt talks about Chase Anderson's outing

    Paul Goldschmidt talks about Chase Anderson’s outing

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' comeback win in MIlwaukee

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ comeback win in MIlwaukee

  • Chris Iannetta on his game-tying homer vs. Brewers

    Chris Iannetta on his game-tying homer vs. Brewers

  • Can D-Backs keep this up? Why, why not

    Can D-Backs keep this up? Why, why not

  • Robbie Ray after dominant outing in Milwaukee

    Robbie Ray after dominant outing in Milwaukee

  • D-Backs' Torey Lovullo on impressive win over Brewers

    D-Backs’ Torey Lovullo on impressive win over Brewers

  • Torey Lovullo on 'nice team win' for D-Backs

    Torey Lovullo on ‘nice team win’ for D-Backs

  • Jake Lamb on strong game against lefty Jose Quintana

    Jake Lamb on strong game against lefty Jose Quintana

  • Chris Herrmann on hitting surge, HR in win

    Chris Herrmann on hitting surge, HR in win

  • Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley competes in cow milking competition

    Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley competes in cow milking competition

  • Shelby Miller: Tommy John surgery 'was a pretty smooth process'

    Shelby Miller: Tommy John surgery ‘was a pretty smooth process’

  • Shot Clock: Time to take D-Backs seriously

    Shot Clock: Time to take D-Backs seriously

  • Zack Greinke on near-complete game, Eephus pitch

    Zack Greinke on near-complete game, Eephus pitch

  • Torey Lovullo on Zack Greinke's 'great night'

    Torey Lovullo on Zack Greinke’s ‘great night’

  • Montini volunteers free tickets - with Bickley's help

    Montini volunteers free tickets – with Bickley’s help

  • D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo on loss vs. Padres

    D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo on loss vs. Padres

  • Chris Iannetta on homering in first game off DL

    Chris Iannetta on homering in first game off DL

  • Zack Godley on his outing vs. Padres

    Zack Godley on his outing vs. Padres

  • Torey Lovullo after D-Backs pound Padres 9-1

    Torey Lovullo after D-Backs pound Padres 9-1

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' blowout win vs. Padres

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ blowout win vs. Padres

  • Taijuan Walker tosses six scoreless vs. Padres

    Taijuan Walker tosses six scoreless vs. Padres

  • Brandon Drury homers in win vs. Padres

    Brandon Drury homers in win vs. Padres

  • Watch out for Dodgers; Cards CBs apply for job

    Watch out for Dodgers; Cards CBs apply for job

  • Diamondbacks outlast Mets in extra innings

    Diamondbacks outlast Mets in extra innings

  • Diamondbacks discuss close win over Mets

    Diamondbacks discuss close win over Mets

  • Diamondbacks' Zack Godley talks after win over Mets

    Diamondbacks’ Zack Godley talks after win over Mets

  • Diamondbacks' Torey Lovullo talks upbeat pace in win over Mets

    Diamondbacks’ Torey Lovullo talks upbeat pace in win over Mets

  • A.J. Pollock discusses his injury after loss to Pirates

    A.J. Pollock discusses his injury after loss to Pirates

  • David Peralta downplays his injury vs. Pirates

    David Peralta downplays his injury vs. Pirates

  • Torey Lovullo on injuries, loss vs. Pirates

    Torey Lovullo on injuries, loss vs. Pirates

  • Chris Iannetta talks about scary HBP vs. Pirates

    Chris Iannetta talks about scary HBP vs. Pirates

  • Diamondbacks rally falls short against Pirates

    Diamondbacks rally falls short against Pirates

  • Lovullo: Iannetta "said he could play tonight if he had to" after HBP

    Lovullo: Iannetta “said he could play tonight if he had to” after HBP

  • Diamondbacks overwhelm Pirates 11-4

    Diamondbacks overwhelm Pirates 11-4

  • Kaepernick blackballed? Greinke now trade bait?

    Kaepernick blackballed? Greinke now trade bait?

  • Zack Greinke on his near no-hitter against Pirates

    Zack Greinke on his near no-hitter against Pirates

  • Lovullo reacts to Greinke's near no-hitter in win

    Lovullo reacts to Greinke’s near no-hitter in win

  • Diamondbacks snap losing streak with win over Tigers

    Diamondbacks snap losing streak with win over Tigers

  • Diamondbacks drop third straight with loss to Tigers

    Diamondbacks drop third straight with loss to Tigers

  • Shot Clock: D-Backs face pivotal homestand

    Shot Clock: D-Backs face pivotal homestand

  • Torey Lovullo after D-Backs' latest loss to Rockies

    Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ latest loss to Rockies

  • Taijuan Walker after loss to Rockies

    Taijuan Walker after loss to Rockies

  • Patrick Corbin after being roughed up by Rockies

    Patrick Corbin after being roughed up by Rockies

  • D-Backs' Torey Lovullo on 'tough night' at Coors Field

    D-Backs’ Torey Lovullo on ‘tough night’ at Coors Field

  • Zack Greinke on impressive outing vs. Rockies

    Zack Greinke on impressive outing vs. Rockies

  • Manager Torey Lovullo after win over Rockies

    Manager Torey Lovullo after win over Rockies

DETROIT – Taijuan Walker pitched five sharp innings in his return from the disabled list, and the Diamondbacks won their fourth straight game, 2-1 over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.

Walker (5-3) allowed a run and six hits in his first appearance since May 19. He had been out because of a blister on his right index finger.

The Diamondbacks scored two runs in the first inning, and that turned out to be all they needed. Walker was lifted after 82 pitches, but Randall Delgado pitched three scoreless innings of relief. Fernando Rodney struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save in 21 chances.

Jordan Zimmermann (5-5) allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings.

Arizona is 9-1 in interleague play this season. The lone defeat was at home May 10 against Detroit.

The Diamondbacks took the lead right away against Zimmermann. Gregor Blanco led off the game with a single to left that got past Justin Upton for an error. Blanco went all the way to third on the play and scored on David Peralta’s sacrifice fly. Brandon Drury added an RBI single, but Upton redeemed himself by throwing Chris Owings out at the plate.

Detroit was hitless until the third, when Ian Kinsler managed a two-out double and scored on Alex Avila’s single.

Walker struck out six and walked one, and Zimmermann was impressive as well. After Chris Hermann’s single to start the second, Arizona didn’t have another baserunner until the seventh.

It was the third straight quality start for Zimmermann and the first time this year he had gone more than six innings. He struck out six without a walk and lowered his ERA to 5.35.

– Associated Press

Delgado pitching well out of pen

Right-hander Randall Delgado, in his first relief outing following four turns in the Diamondbacks rotation, has tossed two scoreless innings on Wednesday night, protecting a 2-1 lead he inherited from Taijuan Walker.

Delgado’s outing has had a couple of scary moments for the Diamondbacks: His first pitch of the night in the sixth inning was driven to the warning track in right field by J.D. Martinez, falling just short of his second home run in as many days.

Then in the seventh, Ian Kinsler hit a foul ball down the left field line that looked like it had a chance to be a home run before hooking foul.

But Delgado has retired all six batters he’s faced.

D-Backs bats go quiet after first

The Diamondbacks haven’t scored since their two-run first inning – and don’t have a hit since Chris Herrmann led off the second with a single.

Though the Diamondbacks have a 2-1 lead, they’ve made 14 consecutive outs against Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann.

Meanwhile, Diamondbacks right-hander Taijuan Walker’s first start back off the disabled list is over, and it was a good one. He gave up just one run in five innings, walking one and striking out six on 82 pitches.

D-Backs lead Tigers early

The Diamondbacks scored a pair of first-inning runs for the second night in a row, and right-hander Taijuan Walker was pitching effectively through four innings in his first start back from the disabled list. The Diamondbacks led 2-1 after four innings.

The Diamondbacks collected four hits in the first off Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, taking advantage of a defensive mistake by Tigers left fielder Justin Upton, who let a Gregor Blanco single get past him to start the game. Blanco ended up at third base.

Paul Goldschmidt, Chris Owings and Brandon Drury also had hits in the first inning.

Walker, meanwhile, gave up a run in the third inning, when Alex Avila followed an Ian Kinsler double with a run-scoring single. Walker, though, worked out a jam in the fourth and has six strikeouts and only one walk through four.

Hoover’s struggles continue

Reliever J.J. Hoover’s game log features a peculiar trend. In 15 appearances since May 7, he’s given up at least one run in every road game while turning in a scoreless outing in every game at Chase Field.

Pitching coach Mike Butcher has no explanation for the home/road numbers, but he points to a mechanical issue Hoover has been working through in order to maintain consistency with his pitch location.

“If he gets too quick, sometimes he yanks the ball a little bit,” Butcher said. “We’re just trying to get him to stay back a little bit.”

Hoover had a 1.69 ERA through his first 13 outings but has allowed nine runs in 11 innings in his past 15 games, allowing 26 baserunners in that stretch.

“You look at his delivery and it’s kind of quick to home plate anyway and that’s what gives him a lot of deception, so it’s a very fine line of being too quick and being too slow,” Butcher said. “He’s in a little bit of a rut right now but we’re looking for him to bounce back.”

Blanco providing early spark

The Diamondbacks’ Gregor Blanco fell behind 0-2 before banging a single into right field to lead off the game Tuesday night. It’s the kind of at-bat that’s becoming common in games in which Blanco leads off.

Blanco is 6 for 16 (.375) with two doubles, a home run and a walk in his first at-bat of a game when he’s the leadoff hitter.

“I think he walks up, and he’s ready,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “These guys do a lot in their pregame preparation that heats up their body and lets them step up there ready to set the tone.”

It’s not just Blanco – the Diamondbacks as a team have performed well in their first at-bats of the game. They own a .911 OPS in the first inning, the third-best mark in the majors, and have scored 46 first-inning runs, tied for the sixth most.

“One of the things that I ask is that these guys are ready to play in the first inning,” Lovullo said. “Sometimes it doesn’t look like it, everybody has their moments, but by and large we get up in the first inning and are ready to do some damage. I know Gregor has done a great job setting the table for that.”

The Diamondbacks grabbed an early lead on Tuesday night, scoring twice in the first inning against the Tigers. They’ve scored in the first inning in 23 of their 66 games.

Short hops

Center fielder A.J. Pollock, who is working his way back from a groin injury, ran to first base and rounded the bag on Wednesday, while also taking three at-bats in a simulated game at Salt River Fields. “It was a good day for A.J.,” Lovullo said. Pollock is expected to have a lighter day on Thursday before ramping up his running even more on Friday – i.e., going first to third — which would likely be the final step before a rehab assignment.

*Left-hander Steve Hathaway will undergo a debridement surgery on his left shoulder next week. Hathaway has made just one appearance in the minors this season due to shoulder problems.

Lineup

Wednesday’s game

Diamondbacks at Tigers

When: 4:10 p.m.

Where: Comerica Park, Detroit.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (4-3, 3.46) vs. Tigers RHP Jordan Zimmermann (5-4, 5.72).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM (620), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Walker will be making his first start since May 19 in San Diego. He has missed the past four due to a blister on his right index finger. … Walker threw about 65 pitches in an outing in extended spring training last week. He also has continued to throw bullpen sessions and pitched in a simulated game during his stint on the DL. … Zimmermann has thrown well in his past two outings, going six innings in each and allowing a total of three earned runs. … Opponents have hit him hard this year, putting together a .305/.361/.548 line against him this season. Lefties have given him particular trouble, hitting .339 with a .966 OPS. … Zimmermann has won five of his six starts at Comerica Park this year. … He’s averaging 93 mph with his fastball, but he’s throwing the pitch less than ever, only 46 percent of the time. He’s been throwing more curveballs and change-ups than in past years.

Coming up

Thursday: Off.

Friday: At Philadelphia, 4:05 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (5-6, 5.38) vs. Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (3-4, 4.40).

Saturday: At Philadelphia, 1:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (2-1, 2.44) vs. Phillies RHP Jerad Eickhoff (0-7, 5.09).

Sunday: At Philadelphia, 10:35 a.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (7-3, 2.62) vs. Phillies RHP Ben Lively (1-1, 2.57)*.

* – Stats entering Tuesday.

David Peralta powers up as D-Backs escape with win over Tigers

Late in the 2015 season, David Peralta lunged to make a diving catch in the outfield and bent his right wrist awkwardly. Little did he know the injury would dog him for all of the following year, robbing his swing of its trademark electricity before ultimately ending his season in August.

But there was Peralta on Tuesday night, more than 10 months and 200 at-bats removed from surgery, rounding the bases with that same right wrist flung in the air in celebration, his solo homer to lead off the ninth giving the Diamondbacks the go-ahead run in a game they would win 7-6 over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

For Peralta, it was his second extra-base hit of the night and his fourth in the past four games. A player who began the year guiding hits through holes on the infield seems to be giving way to the Peralta of old, the one capable of driving balls all over the field.

Godley earns spot in D-Backs rotation; Delgado back to bullpen

DETROIT – The Diamondbacks are shifting right-hander Randall Delgado back to the bullpen, a move that means right-hander Zack Godley will remain in the starting rotation. Godley will start on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Based on comments last week, manager Torey Lovullo seemed to be leaning toward keeping Delgado in a starting role, but Godley seemingly forced his way into staying in the rotation.

After Delgado gave up four runs in five innings against the Brewers on Friday and Godley allowed just two runs – and only four baserunners – in 6 2/3 innings the next day, the Diamondbacks appeared to change course.

“This was more along the lines of us getting the best opportunity to win baseball games with the best people in the roles that we feel comfortable,” Lovullo said. “For right now that’s exactly what we went with.”

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