Zack Godley retires nine straight to open game

The Diamondbacks host the St. Louis Cardinals for the second of their three-game home series at 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday. Check back throughout the game for updates.

Godley retires nine straight

Right-hander Zack Godley has retired the first nine Cardinals hitters he has faced on Wednesday.

The game was scoreless as play moved to the fourth inning.

Godley struck out a pair in the first and fanned another in the third inning. David Peralta made a spectacular catch in right field to rob Randal Grichuk of extra bases in the second.

The Diamondbacks’ biggest threat came in the third when Rey Fuentes and Jeff Mathis led off the inning with singles followed by a one-out walk by Daniel Descalso, but St. Louis right-hander Adam Wainwright navigated the storm.

Late-inning heroics becoming routine

Perhaps no team in baseball plays with as much late-inning drama as the 2017 Diamondbacks. But from where did the flare for the dramatic arise? Manager Torey Lovullo thinks it could go back to Opening Day.

With Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner working on a perfect game in the sixth inning at Chase Field, the Diamondbacks’ bats suddenly went to work and wound up with a 6-5 walk-off win courtesy of Chris Owings.

Sure, it was only one game — the first game, actually — but it served as an ominous harbinger.

The Diamondbacks (50-28) have as many comeback wins as they do losses. That means in more than half of their victories this season, Arizona has trailed at some point.

“I think every team wants to be able to say they can fight through adversity and come from behind,” Daniel Descalso said. “Once you’ve done it a few times, you know you’re capable of doing that. If you have a hard time coming from behind, not like you’re not trying as hard but you don’t have that experience to draw on. Since we’ve had quite a few come-from-behind victories, I think when we do get down it’s not a panic.

“We know we have a good offense,” he said. “We know we’re probably going to score more than a few runs in this game. If our pitching staff can keep us in it, we’re pretty confident we’re going to have a shot to at least tie it up or take the lead.”

On Tuesday, the Diamondbacks erased a 5-2 deficit and wound up with a 6-5 walk-off win (sound familiar?) in 10 innings over the Cardinals at Chase Field. David Peralta led off the ninth inning with a homer to knot the game at 5. In the 10th, with offensive help from pitchers Patrick Corbin and Zack Godley, Chris Herrmann collected the winning hit off St. Louis closer Seung Hwan Oh.

It was yet another chapter in a season-long story of erasing deficits.

“We’re the kind of team where we always come to play,” Peralta said. “We have a great attitude and a great group of guys and we believe in each other and what we can do. We never give up, even if we fall behind during the game. We’re just going to keep playing until the last out.

“Last night, the big home run to tie the game and help out our team. It was a big moment.”

Lovullo having flashbacks

For first-year manager Torey Lovullo, he sees a lot of similar characteristics from this team to successful contingents he worked with in Boston.

“I feel like a lot of things are overlapping from teams I was with and a part of in Boston,” Lovullo said. “It’s about being a group that cares about each other on a level that you’ve never really experienced before.”

The Diamondbacks have been preaching a never-say-die mindset. They trust that each member of the 25-man roster will do their job and contribute. And so far, that’s they way things have gone.

“That’s what the 2013 Boston Red Sox had,” Lovullo said. “They weren’t the most talented group, but they played together and moved around in a pack of 25. That’s what I see here today. These guys care about each other. Inside and out, they know that they’re here for a great cause. Something special happens every day that makes you believe this can continue.”

Encouraging signs for Tomas, Pollock

Injured Diamondbacks Yasmany Tomas and A.J. Pollock each had positive rehab outings on Tuesday and both showed signs of good health early Wednesday, according to Lovullo.

Rehabbing a right groin strain, Tomas played five innings and went 0 for 2 for the Diamondbacks Rookie League affiliate at Salt River Fields.

Pollock continued his rehab stint with Triple-A Reno, manning center field for six innings and recording a double in four at-bats. Pollock is scheduled to play five innings in the field on Wednesday.

Lovullo would not commit to either being ready for big-league action this weekend.

Owings starting at shortstop

With Nick Ahmed out with a fractured right hand, Chris Owings will make the start at shortstop on Wednesday.

Other lineup notes include Daniel Descalso making the start in left field and leading off, while Rey Fuentes slots in at center.

D-Backs recall Ketel Marte

The Diamondbacks have recalled shortstop Ketel Marte from Triple-A Reno and placed shortstop Nick Ahmed on the disabled list with a fracture in his right hand.

Ahmed was hit by a pitch during Tuesday night’s 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals and was forced to exit the game. He could be sidelined anywhere from six to eight weeks and then will require a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the Diamondbacks, which might not be until sometime in September.

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The 23-year-old Marte, acquired in a trade with the Mariners in the Taijuan Walker deal, is hitting .338 at Reno and is leading all Pacific Coast League batters with 105 hits. In 70 games, he’s collected 23 doubles and seven triples with six home runs and 41 RBIs. He also has seven stolen bases.

The Diamondbacks likely will lean on Chris Owings as their regular starting shortstop with Marte getting one or two starts there per week.

MORE: Diamondbacks continue dominance in extra innings

Pregame notes

Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (3-1, 2.53) vs. Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright (7-5, 5.35)

Zack Godley still has yet to allow more than three runs in any of his nine starts this season. He’s allowed two or fewer runs in each of his four starts at Chase Field.

This will be his first career start and appearance against the Cardinals.

He’s recorded a season-high eight strikeouts in each of his past two starts and the Diamondbacks have won seven of his past eight starts overall.

Wainwright has allowed one earned run or fewer five times in his past eight starts, two earned runs in another, but has had two incredibly rough outings as well in which he was tagged for nine earned runs twice.

The Cardinals have lost three times in his past four starts, including his last time out when he was charged with just one earned run over seven innings in a 4-3 loss to the Pirates.

Wainwright is 5-1 with a 2.64 ERA at home, but he is 2-4 with a 9.48 ERA on the road.

Wednesday’s game

Cardinals at Diamondbacks

When: 6:40 p.m.

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

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

RELATED: Point Blanco: By telling it like it was, veteran OF Gregor may have saved Diamondbacks

Coming up

Thursday: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (6-7, 4.89) vs. Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn (5-5, 3.86).

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (8-3, 2.87) vs. Rockies LHP Kyle Freeman (8-5, 3.70).

Saturday: At Chase Field, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (9-4, 3.08) vs. Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (4-5, 6.11).

MORE: Diamondbacks on list of most surprising Arizona pro sports seasons