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PHOENIX (AP) — Archie Bradley shook off a shaky start to pitch six effective innings, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks to an 8-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.
Bradley (2-0) walked five in the first three innings, including one that scored a run, but proved to be effectively wild, holding the Rangers to a run and two hits. He is the fifth pitcher since 1914 to allow two hits or fewer in six-plus innings in two of his first three big league starts.
Chris Owings homered off Yovani Gallardo (2-1) and had a run-scoring single for the Diamondbacks. Mark Trumbo also drove in two runs and shortstop Nick Ahmed made some nifty defensive plays to help Arizona turn four double plays.
Adrian Beltre hit a solo homer in the Rangers' four-run ninth inning.
Bradley held his own in his first two big league starts despite facing the opposing team's ace in both.
The rookie right-hander pitched six scoreless innings in a victory over reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers in his first start in the majors and allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings to outduel San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner in a no-decision in his second start.
Bradley had control issues in his third start, though some of it worked in his favor; the Rangers didn't have a hit until Gallardo's leadoff single in the fifth inning.
Bradley got two quick outs in the first inning, then walked three — one scored a run — and hit a batter in a 37-pitch first inning.
He worked around leadoff walks the next two innings and settled into a rhythm after that to win his third straight start against an opening day starter.
Gallardo labored in his opening day start, allowing four runs in four innings against Oakland, but looked better in wins over Houston and Seattle, allowing two combined runs in 11 2-3 innings.
He wasn't as sharp against Arizona.
The Diamondbacks scored a pair of runs off him in the first inning on consecutive high choppers: an infield single by A.J. Pollock with a throwing error Beltre at third base and a groundout by Paul Goldschmidt.
Trumbo had an RBI groundout in the third inning and added a run-scoring single in the fifth to put Arizona up 5-1. Owings led off the fourth inning with his first home since June 12, 2014, against Houston, and hit a run-scoring triple off Logan Verrett in the eighth.
Gallardo allowed five runs — three earned — and six hits and struck out five in five innings.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Texas has a day off before playing on Friday, when LHP Wandy Rodriguez will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to start against the Los Angeles Angels. That will allow the Rangers, who have yet to use a fifth starter, give Colby Lewis some extra rest and push back Ross Detwiler. Texas will have to make a roster move when Rodriguez comes up.
Diamondbacks: RHP Josh Collmenter will start against Pittsburgh on Friday after tossing a four-hit shutout and getting a career-high three hits against San Francisco his previous start.
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