AJ Pollock

D-backs can't get going against Padres' Ross

Published Jun. 27, 2015 2:03 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Diamondbacks on Friday night ran on San Diego right-hander Tyson Ross, like they (and others) do. Getting enough runners on base to take advantage of Ross' slow delivery was another matter.

The D-backs had two stolen bases but committed three errors and had a season-low two hits in falling to Ross for the second time in seven days, 4-2 at Petco Park.

Ross threw a complete game in an 8-1 victory at Chase Field last Saturday, but he was not the same guy Friday. He walked five, although he was helped by two double plays and a caught stealing. Ross walked the bases loaded around two stolen bases by Chris Owings in the third inning, and Paul Goldschmidt followed with a two-run single to center for a quick 2-1 lead.

But when Ross and the Padres' relievers threw strikes, the D-backs had a hard time. Starter Robbie Ray had the D-backs' only other hit, a single up the middle in the fifth.

Errors by Goldschmidt, catcher Welington Castillo and reliever David Hernandez compounded their troubles. San Diego scored single runs in the first, third and ninth after the errors, although two of the runs were earned.

"We just didn't play the defense we are used to playing," D-backs manager Hale told FOX Sports Arizona's Todd Walsh. "We're usually tighter than that."

Running on Ross is nothing unusual. He gave up 31 stolen bases last season, second in the National League, and opponents had an NL-high 22 stolen bases against him entering the game.

Tomas was caught trying to steal second base by catcher Derek Norris in the second inning, however, before Owings stole second, then third, in the third. Owings caught the Padres off guard and cruised into third base with two outs and A.J. Pollock on first base, when the Padres had only one infielder on the third base side of second base while playing a dramatic pull-shift against David Peralta.

Peralta walked to load the bases before Goldschmidt singled to center field for a 2-1 lead, but the D-backs did not get another runner to second base until there were two outs in the ninth.

Patrick Corbin built himself up to 79 pitches in going six innings at Double-A Mobile on Friday, when he gave up four hits and two runs in six innings at Tennessee. Corbin, who struck out five and walked two, was not involved in the decision. If things go as planned, Corbin will make one more rehab start before rejoining the D-backs for the first time since 2013.

8 -- Jake Lamb is 0 for 8 with eight strikes outs against Ross.

* For the second time in six starts, Ray did not walk a batter as he mixed in more of his off-speed stuff to complement his 96 mph fastball. "His stuff was very good," Hale said. "His off-speed stuff was very good ... his breaking ball and changeup, which was very impressive. His fastball was electric again." Ray struck out five and gave up three runs, two earned. His ERA remained under 2.00, at 1.98.

* Tomas has looked like a natural right fielder as his time has increased out there, and at no time was that more evident than Friday. He went far into the right-center field gap to take what appeared to be an extra-base hit away from Will Middlebrooks in the fourth inning, and he made a sliding catch in foul territory on Justin Upton's long fly down the right field line in the sixth.

* Jhoulys Chacin made his second straight quality start at Triple-A Reno since signing last week, giving up two runs and four hits in 8 1/3 innings against Fresno. Chacin took a shutout into the ninth before Fresno scored four runs for a 4-1 victory. Chacin has given up three earned runs and has 15 strikeouts in 15 â innings at Reno.

* Mobile outfielder Socrates Brito and Kane County right-hander Wei-Chieh (Way Jay) Huang were named to the World roster for the annual MLB Futures Game on July 12. Huang has made a good first impression in the Midwest League, going 3-0 with a 0.85 ERA in his first five starts. An international free agent signed out of Taiwan, Huang has 32 strikeouts and five walks in 31 2/3 innings.

Former major league outfielder Billy Bean, who was appointed major league baseball's first "ambassador of inclusion" last July, spoke to the D-backs' front office as part of the team's First Friday lunch program. Bean, who publicly came out as gay in 1999, could have been forgiven for some extra pep in his step. The Supreme Court announced earlier Friday that the constitution guarantees the right to same-sex marriage.