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    D-Backs’ Zack Greinke on outing vs. Cardinals

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    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ 7-1 win over Cardinals

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    D-Backs manager Tony Lovullo on Robbie Ray’s condition

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    Daniel Descalso on liner that hit Robbie Ray

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    Shot Clock: Focus key for J.D. Martinez

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    Torey Lovullo on Martinez’s grand slam, Godley’s outing

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    J.D. Martinez on strong performance in win

  • Ketel Marte on his inside-the-park home run

    Ketel Marte on his inside-the-park home run

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    Lovullo talks about the D-Backs’ 10-3 win over Atlanta

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    Diamondbacks fall 8-3 to Braves

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    J.D. Martinez on playing in the NL, seeing new pitching

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    Lovullo raves about Greinke’s outing vs. Braves

  • Zack Greinke discusses outing vs. Braves

    Zack Greinke discusses outing vs. Braves

  • Torey Lovullo and Robbie Ray discuss Diamondbacks' loss to Nationals

    Torey Lovullo and Robbie Ray discuss Diamondbacks’ loss to Nationals

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    Anthony Banda talks about his MLB debut

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    Lovullo reacts to the D-Backs’ loss to the Nationals

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    Diamondbacks edge Nationals in walk-off win

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    Diamondbacks introduce J.D. Martinez at Chase Field

  • Torey Lovullo on Corbin's outing, series victory vs. Reds

    Torey Lovullo on Corbin’s outing, series victory vs. Reds

  • Patrick Corbin on his strong start vs. Reds

    Patrick Corbin on his strong start vs. Reds

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    J.D. Martinez talks about getting hit by a pitch vs. Reds

  • Manager Torey Lovullo on loss to Reds, Martinez's injury

    Manager Torey Lovullo on loss to Reds, Martinez’s injury

  • Zack Greinke on his outing vs. Reds

    Zack Greinke on his outing vs. Reds

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    Shot Clock: D-Backs seize moment with trade

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    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ win over Reds, acquisition of J.D. Martinez

  • Shot Clock: Robbie Ray brings intensity to mound

    Shot Clock: Robbie Ray brings intensity to mound

  • Shot Clock: D-Backs fear Cubs; ASU's hot seat

    Shot Clock: D-Backs fear Cubs; ASU’s hot seat

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    Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ fifth straight loss

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    Zack Godley on rough start vs. Braves

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    Patrick Corbin goes five innings vs. Braves

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    Randall Delgado on Braves’ four-run, go-ahead rally

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    Torey Lovullo after D-Backs lose again vs. Braves

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    Torey Lovullo talks D-Backs’ strategy in loss to Braves

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    Taijuan Walker on his night vs. Braves

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    Shot Clock: D-Backs’ trade deadline ideas

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    Shot Clock: Playoffs for D-Backs and Suns?

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    Diamondbacks fall 2-1 to Reds

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    Lovullo on the Diamondbacks’ loss to the Reds

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    Diamondbacks hold off Reds for 6-3 win

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

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    Torey Lovullo after Dodgers sweep D-Backs in LA

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    Robbie Ray on his outing, tough loss vs. Dodgers

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

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    Zack Godley talks about his outing vs. Dodgers.

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    Gregor Blanco after D-Backs’ loss to Dodgers

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

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

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

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    Dodgers vs D-Backs preview

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

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    Four Diamondbacks react to making NL All-Star team

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    Archie Bradley on D-Backs’ win over Rockies

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    Zack Greinke on his effective outing vs. Rockies

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    Robbie Ray on his outing in loss vs. Rockies

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    Chris Owings homers twice in loss to Rockies

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    Torey Lovullo talks loss to Cardinals

Ray thankful head injury wasn’t worse

In Robbie Ray’s world, things were moving a little slowly on Sunday morning. He’s thankful that was about all that was different.

Two days after taking a 108 mph line drive off the head, Ray stood in front of his locker and relived the moment. He remembers everything. The pitch he threw to the Cardinals’ Luke Voit. The ball screaming toward him. The panic to get his face out of harm’s way.

“I could not be standing here right now,” Ray said. “I could be in a hospital. I’m very thankful for everybody that’s been involved in the process. I’m just glad to be here and be with the team. I’m thankful it didn’t end up worse.”

Ray has three staples in the left side of his head over an area that was visibly bruised. He also has a concussion, the first of his career, and was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list. But, he said, a CT scan showed no fracture in his skull, no internal bleeding, nothing resembling the sort of life-threatening injuries other pitchers have come away with after being struck by line drives.

Ray was whisked to the hospital after Voit’s liner hit him in the bottom of the second inning. At the same time, his wife, Taylor, caught a flight to St. Louis to be with him. He said he watched the first three innings of Saturday’s game on television but was otherwise asleep most of the day.

“I got 18 hours of sleep yesterday,” he said. “I’m just really slow right now. Body is moving really slow. I’m just trying to get things back to normal. Other than that, really, I had a headache the first day, but I don’t have that anymore. I can definitely tell there’s some staples in my head. It’s pulling the skin a little bit. Other than that, not a whole lot.”

Ray said he’s undergone concussion tests and performed well in measures of memory and balance. But he said his symptoms have to diminish before he can think about returning to the mound.

“I know it’s a process,” Ray said. “I’m trying to work my way through this first and get back to 100 percent where I need to be so I can help this team. I’m not really thinking about getting back out there until I get back to 100 percent.”

Rotation options

With Ray on the DL, the Diamondbacks will, as expected, move right-hander Zack Greinke up to start Thursday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. (He’ll be on normal rest because of Monday’s off day.)

But they’re not saying what they’ll do over the weekend in San Francisco. Right-hander Taijuan Walker could also start on normal rest on Friday, but the club would need another start on Saturday.

“In the coming days we’ll all sit down as a group and map out the best strategy,” Lovullo said. “We’ve got candidates. We’ve got a few names in mind, but we just want to make sure over the next couple of days we think about it as thoroughly as possible.”

Is Ray a candidate for Saturday, the first day he’d be eligible to come off the DL?

“It’s just way too early to predict that right now,” Lovullo said. “We just want to make sure he gets healthy and strong. I guess you would have to say he’s a candidate, but we’re not going to force anything.”

Sunday’s game

When: 11:15 a.m.

Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (6-4, 3.47) vs. Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn (8-6, 3.21).

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

Walker gave up two runs (one earned) in six innings against the Braves. He started against the Braves his previous outing, as well; the Diamondbacks lost both games, though Walker threw well in each. … Walker has a 2.70 ERA in eight road starts, compared to a 4.14 ERA in eight home starts. … Walker gave up five runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings against the Cardinals on June 27. … Lynn, who is a free agent at the end of the year, has been rumored to be a trade candidate for the Cardinals. … He has been on a roll lately, logging a 0.71 ERA in his past four starts, with two runs allowed in 25 1/3 innings. … He gave up three runs in six innings against the Diamondbacks on June 29.

Sunday’s lineup

Gregor Blanco gets the start in center for A.J. Pollock

Drury: ‘I feel a hot streak coming soon’

ST. LOUIS – Brandon Drury does not seem pleased about the events in recent weeks that have led to a reduction in his playing time. But Drury did not sound as if it had any effect on his confidence.

“It’s on me,” Drury said. “If I go out and do my thing and play like I can, there’s going to be no other option than to have me in the lineup. At the end of the day, it’s on me.”

Drury was out of the lineup on Thursday night, the sixth time in the past 11 games the Diamondbacks’ second baseman has been left on the bench. He was back in the lineup on Friday, batting seventh, before coming off the bench Saturday to draw a walk and score a run.

Much like it did during his rookie season a year ago, Drury’s production has ebbed and flowed throughout the past four months. The most recent stretch has been rough. Since June 23, he’s hitting .200 with a .548 OPS and seven walks and 24 strikeouts in 80 at-bats.

It’s happened just as the Diamondbacks have slumped as a team, perhaps compelling manager Torey Lovullo to be less patient, particularly with other options, including Daniel Descalso and Ketel Marte, who have been more productive in recent games.

READ THE STORY: Drury confident playing time won’t be reduced for long

Coming up

Monday: Off.

Tuesday: At Chicago, 5:05 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (8-9, 4.36) vs. Cubs LHP Jon Lester (8-6, 3.88).

Wednesday: At Chicago, 5:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (4-4, 3.06) vs. Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (10-7, 4.03).

Thursday: At Chicago, 11:20 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (12-4, 2.92)* vs. Cubs LHP Jose Quintana (6-6, 3.88).

*– Stats entering Saturday.

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