CINCINNATI (AP) - Slugger J.D. Martinez isn’t due to join Arizona until Wednesday. While they waited, the Diamondbacks went ahead and set a few offensive records.
Chris Herrmann capped a six-run fifth inning with a two-run homer, and the Diamondbacks slugged their way past the Cincinnati Reds 11-2 on Tuesday night, shortly after trading for Martinez.
The Diamondbacks snapped a five-game skid by getting an extra-base hit from nine players, a first for the franchise. Six of those came in the fifth inning, another Arizona first. Among the biggest blows were a pinch-hit, three-run shot by Rey Fuentes in the seventh and a two-run triple from All-Star Jake Lamb.
“It feels amazing,” said Fuentes, who hadn’t played in 10 days. “It felt really familiar. We’ve been doing that all year. The bats were making a lot of noise.”
Manager Torey Lovullo enjoyed Arizona’s best offensive night since a 16-run outburst on June 21 at Colorado. The Diamondbacks scored one more run than they’d scored in their combined five previous games.
“That’s the game we’ve been waiting for for a while,” Lovullo said. “Our offense hasn’t been clicking. That’s how baseball is.”
“It was a matter of time,” said starting pitcher Robbie Ray. “We’re resilient. It was a lot of fun.”
Arizona acquired Martinez from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for minor leaguers Dawel Lugo, Sergio Alcantara and Jose King. He’s expected to join the team prior to their game Wednesday.
Zack Cozart hit his 10th homer, but Cincinnati is 0-5 since the All-Star break, and opponents have reached double figures in runs in three of the games.
Amid muggy conditions and a 90-degree first-pitch temperature, Ray (9-4) lasted six innings for Arizona, allowing four hits and two runs in his first start since July 6.
“It felt good to get back out there on the mound,” said Ray, who was named to the All-Star team but didn’t pitch. “The fastball felt good, and the other pitches came around.”
“He’s been doing that all year,” Lovullo said. “Like (Zack) Greinke in his last start, Robbie was trying to stop a losing streak, and he went out and executed.”
Reds starter Sal Romano, recalled from Triple-A Louisville earlier Tuesday to make his third career start, failed to retire a batter in the fifth, giving up doubles to A.J. Pollock and David Peralta and walking Paul Goldschmidt - one of four walks he drew - before Lamb shot a triple into the right-field corner just out of reach of the diving Joey Votto.
Romano (1-2) allowed six hits, six runs and five walks with three strikeouts.
“I think I could have battled through,” he said. “I always want to be out there, I always want the ball. It was obviously very, very humid out there, something I really haven’t gone through this season.”
Cozart, the NL’s starting shortstop in the All-Star Game, snapped an 0-for-11 slump with his first-inning homer. He added a double and finished 3-for-4.
Daniel Descalso tied the game with a second-inning sacrifice fly, and Ray led off the third by drawing a walk and scoring the go-ahead run on Goldschmidt’s double.
RARE TRIP
Ray’s intentional walk of Jose Peraza in the fourth inning was Peraza’s sixth walk of the season and first since May 21. He went 183 plate appearances between walks.
500 K
Ray’s strikeout of Scott Schebler in the fourth inning was the 500th strikeout of Ray’s career. He is the 10th active pitcher and third left-hander to reach 500 strikeouts in 82 or fewer games.
ROAD WARRIOR
Goldschmidt’s third-inning double extended his road hitting streak to a career-high 16 games.
TRAINING ROOM
Diamondbacks: RHP Randall Delgado will be shut down for 10-14 days while dealing with a mild right flexor strain, manager Torey Lovullo said. Delgado went on the 10-day disabled list Sunday.
Reds: C Devin Mesoraco went 1 for 4 with a grand slam and two walks in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Louisville on Monday.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: Greinke (11-4, 2.86) will be making his first start since July 7, when he limited the Reds to four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in a 6-3 Diamondbacks win at Arizona. Greinke improved to 8-2 with a 2.21 ERA in 13 career starts against the Reds.
Reds: RHP Tim Adleman (5-7, 4.99) gave up six hits and three earned runs with one walk and four strikeouts in five innings of a July 7 loss at Arizona. Adleman has lost his last three starts and five of his last six.
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