PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks got a big-time start from Zack Godley Tuesday night to beat the Texas Rangers 6-0 and leap ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League’s West Division.
Godley matched a career high with 10 strikeouts, allowed only two hits and improved to 12-6 while striking out the Rngers’ leadoff batter in each of his seven innings.
“I felt good in locating my pitches really well and getting some weak contact, which is awesome,” Godley said. “I just had a good feel for all my pitches.”
Nick Ahmed hit a two-run double as part of a three-run fourth inning to give Godley more than enough support.
Rangers starter Bartolo Colon (5-10) was knocked around for five runs and seven hits in five innings. Colon was bidding for career win No. 246, which would have given him the most career wins for a pitcher from Latin America, but came up short in his fifth attempt at the record.
“It didn’t happen. The most important thing is I feel good and healthy,” Colon said in Spanish. “When it comes, it will come. I don’t want to put more pressure on myself because it will be worse for me if I think about it.”
A.J. Pollock’s first-inning homer cleared the high wall in center field, his 15th of the year and the 24th that Colon has allowed.
Arizona took a 2-0 lead on Paul Goldschmidt’s two-out double to drive in Jon Jay in the third inning, then Ahmed made it 4-0 in the fourth when he lined his double into the left field corner to score Steven Souza Jr. and Daniel Descalso.
“I got down 0-2 and was able to battle to 3-2 to get one more over the plate to drive,” Ahmed said.
Jay singled in Ahmed before the inning ended, and Ahmed raced home on a wild pitch in the sixth to make it 6-0.
The defeat ended a four-game Texas winning streak.
BIG LEAGUE DEBUT
Left-hander Jeffrey Springs came on for Colon in the sixth for his major league debut after being called up from Triple-A Round Rock earlier in the day. Springs allowed a run on one hit, a walk and a wild pitch, but recorded his first three career strikeouts in two innings of work.
“I was hoping for the ball but I wasn’t sure,” Springs said. “It’s everything I thought and more.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: RHP Chris Martin was activated from the 10-day disabled list after the trade of Diekman and pitcher Keone Kela to Pittsburgh.
Diamondbacks: OF David Peralta was held out of the lineup with right shoulder tightness for the second straight night. … RHP Shelby Miller was transferred to the 60-day disabled list with elbow inflammation as part of the roster move to make room for Ziegler. … LHP Andrew Chafin was placed on the paternity leave list.
UP NEXT
Rangers: RHP Yovani Gallardo (5-1) faces Baltimore at home on Thursday after a day off Wednesday.