Texas Rangers

D-backs struggle but find magic late in win over Rangers

Published Apr. 10, 2019 1:07 p.m. ET

PHOENIX (AP) -- Pinch-hitter Jarrod Dyson connected for a two-run homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.

Dyson, batting for John Ryan Murphy with Eduardo Escobar on second base, ripped a 2-2 pitch from Rangers closer Jose Leclerc into the seats in right field. Arizona rallied from a 4-0 deficit after two innings for its third win in four games.

Matt Andriese (2-0) pitched two innings of scoreless ball in relief of starter Zack Greinke. Murphy and Nick Ahmed hit solo home runs for the Diamondbacks.

Down 4-2 in the ninth, the Diamondbacks' Christian Walker led off with a single against Leclerc (1-1), who blew a save chance for the first time this season. Escobar doubled in Walker and Ahmed struck out before Dyson went deep.

The loss ruined a strong effort from Texas starter Mike Minor, who struck out five in seven innings of five-hit ball. Elvis Andrus had two hits and drove in two runs to lead the Rangers, who have lost four straight.

Texas scored twice in both the first and second innings, with Andrus' double and Nomar Mazara's groundout making it 2-0 and run-scoring singles from Rougned Odor and Andrus building a 4-0 lead in the second.

Greinke settled down and retired 14 Rangers in a row from the second through the seventh before Shin-Shoo Choo's second double of the game with one out in the seventh. Greinke allowed three earned runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.

The Diamondbacks made it 4-1 in the third with Murphy's home run, a solo shot yanked down the left field line. Ahmed went deep to left-center in the seventh off Minor.

Greinke's strikeout of Choo in the fourth was the 2,453rd of his career, tying him with Sam McDowell for 41st on the career list. Greinke later surpassed that total.

TURF'S UP

Rangers executives attended Tuesday's series opener to get a firsthand look at the synthetic grass surface that was installed at Chase Field before the regular season started. It will be the same playing surface used at the new Globe Life Field, the Rangers' future home which is currently under construction.

CITIZEN CABRERA

Rangers third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera did not play after cross-country travel Monday from Miami, where he was sworn in as a U.S. citizen. Cabrera is 16 for 37 (.432) in his career against Greinke.

RING IT IN

Diamondbacks bullpen catcher Dan Butler, who played in two games for the Boston Red Sox last season, will receive his World Series ring at a later date because he could not attend the team's banner ceremony Tuesday at Fenway Park.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: RHP Taijuan Walker (elbow) threw a bullpen, with no indication on when his next rehab outing will be. . LHP T.J. McFarland is scheduled to pitch one inning of an extending spring game Wednesday, manager Torey Lovullo said.

UP NEXT

Texas sends RHP Lance Lynn (0-1, 6.39 ERA) to the mound for his third start of the season. Lynn is 5-0 against Arizona, with three wins at Chase Field. LHP Robbie Ray (0-1, 4.35) is scheduled for the Diamondbacks.