Rookie Young outpitches Lynn as Diamondbacks top Rangers 9-2

It took more than any homecoming jitters to cool off Arizona Diamondbacks rookie pitcher Alex Young on Tuesday night.

The 25-year-old left-hander allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings to help the Diamondbacks beat the Texas Rangers 9-2. Young (3-0) pitched collegiately about 20 miles from Globe Life Park for TCU in Fort Worth and now lives in nearby Dallas.

Young allowed 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.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Kevin Cron (32) congratulates Ildemaro Vargas (15) on a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (AP PhotoRichard W. Rodriguez)

"It was awesome," said Young, who was 17-10 during three seasons with the Horned Frogs. "I guess just a little butterflies just having some friends and family here and pitching in this stadium before and being close to TCU and close to home, but I was excited to get here."

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he wasn't concerned that Young might be too amped up.

"I felt like he could manage his emotions," Lovullo said. "I knew he was going to come into this environment and pitch well."

Arizona Diamondbacks Ildemaro Vargas gestures as he approaches home plate after a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 16, 2019. in Arlington, Texas. (AP PhotoRichard W. Rodriguez)

Ketel Marte's two-run single with the bases loaded in the fifth inning broke a 1-1 tie. 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 errors.

Young had a scoreless streak that began during his major league debut on June 27 end at 13 innings 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. Texas is 14-18 against left-handed starters and 36-27 vs. righties. Lovullo said he arranged his rotation to have Young and fellow lefty Robbie Ray face the Rangers in this two-game inter-league series.

Texas Rangers' Danny Santana (38) celebrates the solo home run by Joey Gallo (13) during the fourth inning of the team's baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (AP PhotoRichard W. Rodriguez)

"We've addressed it all, and I think that we got to do a better job," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said of his batters' struggles against lefties.

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

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

Texas Rangers designated hitter Hunter Pence (24) bats in the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, July 16, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. This is Pence's first game back after being on the injured list. (AP PhotoRichard W. Rodriguez)

"Today was bad all around," he said.

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.

EMOTIONAL DEMOTION

Texas Rangers left fielder Shin-Soo Choo (17) chases a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks Jarrod Dyson for a double in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 16, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (AP PhotoRichard W. Rodriguez)

To make room on the roster for Pence, the Rangers optioned OF Willie Calhoun to Triple-A Nashville. Calhoun said before the game he was speechless regarding the move.

"I helped the team win," he said. "I don't know what else I would have done."

Calhoun, who was Texas' primary acquisition in the 2017 deadline trade that sent pitcher Yu Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers, hit .277 in 26 games with five home runs and 13 RBI.

Texas Rangers Joey Gallo (13) follows through on a solo home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, July 16, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (AP PhotoRichard W. Rodriguez)

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 four runs and two hits in 1/3 inning in the ninth.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Lance Lynn (35) delivers against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 16, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo Richard W. Rodriguez)

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 Ray (7-6, 3.81) on Wednesday. Ray held opponents to a .100 batting average with 16 strikeouts in winning his last two starts.

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