Hunter Pence returns, Rangers fall to Diamondbacks 9-2

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Rookie Alex Young allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Texas Rangers 9-2 on Tuesday night.

Young (3-0) gave up three hits and one walk to defeat Lance Lynn (12-5), who went into the game with an 8-0 home record this season and led the majors in wins. Young struck out four and was lifted following 79 pitches, the most in his three starts for the Diamondbacks, who have won five of their last seven games.

Ketel Marte's two-run single with the bases loaded in the fifth inning broke a 1-1 tie for Arizona, which won for the fifth time in seven games. Ildemaro Vargas added a two-run home run in the sixth on his 28th birthday, and the Diamondbacks scored four times in the ninth inning aided by two Rangers errors.

Young, who pitched collegiately about 20 miles from Globe Life Park for TCU in Fort Worth, had a scoreless streak that began during his major league debut on June 27 end at 13 in the fourth inning on a two-out home run by Joey Gallo. Young also had a hitless streak dating back to that same game end at 9 2/3 innings on a one-out single by Danny Santana in the second inning.

Five Diamondbacks relievers limited the Rangers, who have lost nine of their last 13 games, to one run and two hits over 3 2/3 innings.

Lynn trailed 1-0 with runners on second and third four batters into the game before he struck out the next two batters to end the inning. That began a run of 12 straight hitters retired before Vargas opened the Diamondbacks' fifth inning rally with a one-out single.

Lynn gave up all five runs on eight hits and one walk, striking out six.

Hunter Pence went 0 for 4 as the designated hitter in his return to Texas' lineup for the first time since June 16, sidelined by a groin strain that also kept him out of last week's All-Star Game after being voted the American League's starting DH. With runners on first and second in the eighth after Texas scored its second run, Pence lined into a double play to first baseman Jake Lamb.

To make room for Pence on the active roster, outfielder Willie Calhoun was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks RHP Taylor Clarke (back inflammation) will start Friday against Milwaukee. . OF Blake Swihart (strained right oblique) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Class A Visalia.

Rangers LHP Jesse Biddle was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Monday with shoulder fatigue. Texas selected the contract of RHP Taylor Guerrieri from Nashville to replace Biddle. Guerrieri allowed two hits in 1/3 inning in the ninth.

UP NEXT

Rangers RHP Jesse Chavez (3-4, 3.84) will make his fifth start as a member of the rotation in the series finale against Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (7-6, 3.81) on Wednesday. Ray held opponents to a .100 batting average with 16 strikeouts in winning his last two starts.