PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks bashed the ball around the yard in their series opener against Cincinnati.
The hits were much harder to come by Tuesday night, but the ones they had were impactful — none more so than Daniel Descalso’s first-inning homer.
Descalso sparked Arizona’s offense with a two-run homer, Zack Godley pitched six effective innings and the Diamondbacks made the most of their four hits to beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-2.
“Descalso, with the two-run homer, got us playing downhill baseball,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “We didn’t have a lot of hits, but we had meaningful hits to help us win the game.”
The Diamondbacks broke out of a nearly monthlong hitting slump in the series opener on Monday, scoring a season-high 12 runs. Descalso got Arizona going against Luis Castillo (4-5), hitting a two-run homer in the first inning, and Arizona won its second straight game on the heels of a 1-8 road trip.
Godley (5-4) bounced back from a shaky previous outing, working out of a jam in the first inning to allow two runs on six hits. Brad Boxberger worked a perfect ninth for his 13th save in 14 chances.
Eugenio Suarez homered for the reeling Reds, who have lost 10 of 15.
“(Godley) had nice mix of breaking balls and change ups,” Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman said. “We hit into a couple of double plays. That is baseball.”
Godley was roughed up his last start, allowing eight runs in 3 1/3 innings in a loss to Milwaukee. The Arizona right-hander looked like he might be in for another short night, giving up a run and three runners in the first inning.
Godley then worked around traffic until Suarez hit a solo homer to center in the sixth to pull the Reds within 4-2.
“It’s a great team victory, great to get the series victory,” Godley said.
Castillo entered Tuesday’s game during the first winning streak of his big league career, winning his previous three decisions after holding Pittsburgh to two runs in six innings on Thursday.
The Diamondbacks jumped on him early with Descalso’s two-run homer in the first inning and added two more in the third to go up 4-1.
Castillo allowed five runs — four earned — on four hits and struck out six in five innings.
“I was aggressive as I usually am,” Castillo said through a translator. “It was one of the nights that the small details were not there and when I made those mistakes, I got hurt.”
REDS MOVES
The Reds recalled RHP Jesus Reyes from Double-A Pensacola and optioned RHP Tanner Rainey to Triple-A Louisville prior to Tuesday’s game. Rainey appeared in six games this season with an era of 13.50. The 25-year-old Reyes, who has yet to appear in the majors, was 0-8 with a 5.97 ERA with Pensacola.
NO STOPPING DYSON
One of Arizona’s runs in the third inning came when Jarrod Dyson scored from first on Ketel Marte’s double that hit the right field line. Third base coach Tony Perezchica put his hands up to hold Dyson at third, but he blew through the stop sign and scored standing up.
“You don’t realize how much space Jerrod covers in such a short amount of time,” Lovullo said. “Before I knew it, he was by Tony and at home plate. It surprised us all, but he was moving. It’s one of his great gifts.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds Austin Brice (back) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday without trouble and RHP Raisel Iglesias (biceps) is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Wednesday. Both are expected to be reinstated from the DL on Wednesday.
Lovullo said an X-ray of A.J. Pollock’s broken left thumb showed the bone has not fully healed yet, but added it’s about where he is expected to be in recovery. The outfielder broke his hand on May 14 and was expected to miss 4 to 8 weeks.
UP NEXT
Reds RHP Sal Romano has allowed 15 runs in 12 2/3 innings in three starts — all losses — heading into Wednesday’s game against Arizona. Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin is 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA in six home starts this season.
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