Corbin Burnes has turned in five strong innings in what has a chance to be his best outing yet with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who lead the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-1, after five innings on Thursday night at Chase Field.
Burnes retired the first nine batters he faced and needed just 44 pitches to get through four innings. He ran into trouble in the fifth, giving up a run on two walks and a double while throwing 26 pitches. He escaped a two-on, two-out jam by striking out Danny Jansen to end the inning.
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The Diamondbacks scored three times in the first two innings. Corbin Carroll had a hand in both situations. In the first, he singled, stole second and scored on Josh Naylor’s RBI single. In the second, he drove home the third run of the game on a groundout.
Alek Thomas’ second-inning double and Tim Tawa’s fifth-inning home run accounted for Arizona’s other runs.
The Diamondbacks are looking to secure a series victory.
Diamondbacks right-hander Kevin Ginkel made his first appearance in a minor league rehab assignment on Thursday. The results were not great.
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Taking over to start the sixth inning against Albuquerque, Ginkel gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
Ginkel had trouble finding the strike zone, throwing several non-competitive pitches. On the bright side, his fastball velocity was more or less in its typical range; he averaged 95.3 mph and topped out at 96.5 mph.
It is unclear if Ginkel will make another appearance for Reno, though it seems like the club would prefer him to post better results before bringing him back from the injured list.
Though he had faced hitters at Salt River Fields, where he pitched in extended spring training games, it was his first game in a real stadium since March 20, when he faced the Athletics in a Cactus League contest.
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—Nick Piecoro
Friday, April 25: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (1-3, 5.60) vs. Braves LHP Chris Sale (0-2, 6.17).
Saturday, April 26: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (3-1, 4.73) vs. Braves RHP Grant Holmes (2-1, 3.22).
Sunday, April 27: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (4-1, 2.73) vs. Braves RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (1-1, 2.56).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DBacks vs Rays: Corbin Burnes cruising at Chase Field
