D’backs tie franchise record with 21 hits, beat Rangers 19-4

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Eduardo Escobar homered twice and the Arizona Diamondbacks tied a franchise record for a nine-inning game with 21 hits while thumping the Texas Rangers 19-4 Wednesday night.

The 19 runs were Arizona’s most since setting a franchise record with 20 against the San Diego Padres last July. Escobar’s first homer sparked a seven-run first inning against right-handed starter Jesse Chavez (3-5), who got just two outs.

The switch-hitting Escobar added a three-run homer batting right-handed against Kyle Bird in the sixth and had five RBIs. Kevin Cron, Jarrod Dyson and Carson Kelly also homered for Arizona.

Arizona also had 21 hits in an 18-2 win over San Francisco in May. The franchise record for any game is 22, set during an 18-inning, 12-7 win over Philadelphia on Aug. 24, 2013.

Robbie Ray (8-6) and two relievers cruised through the blowout. Ray has won all three of his starts in July. Back-to-back homers by Danny Santana and Logan Forsythe provided three Texas runs in the second inning, and Santana added a solo homer against Ray in the sixth.

The teams combined to hit eight homers, five in the first two innings.

By sweeping a two-game series at Texas, the Diamondbacks stayed in the thick of the crowded NL playoff race. The Rangers’ fourth straight loss dropped them five games behind the AL’s second wild card.

Leadoff batter Jarrod Dyson had four at-bats in the first three innings, which ended with Arizona leading 14-3.

Adam Jones went into the game needing two hits to reach 1,900 for his career. He collected a double and a single in the first two innings and added singles in the third and sixth innings.

The 19 runs were the most allowed by Texas this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Dyson left in the sixth inning because of a right hamstring cramp. … INF Wilmer Flores (right foot contusion) could return Thursday from a rehab assignment. … Utility man Blake Swihart (strained right oblique) began a rehab assignment Wednesday at Class A Visalia, where RHP Jon Duplantier (shoulder inflammation) is scheduled to make a rehab start Thursday.

Rangers: C Isiah Kiner-Falefa (sprained right middle finger) continued his rehab assignment as the designated hitter for Double-A Frisco.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: Return home Thursday to open a four-game series against Milwaukee. 30-year-old rookie RHP Merrill Kelly (7-9, 3.93), on a personal three-game losing streak, will oppose Brewers RHP Zach Davies (7-2, 2.89).

Rangers: Begin a three-game series at Houston on Friday. The All-Star starters will be LHP Mike Minor (8-4, 2.73) for Texas and RHP Justin Verlander (11-4, 2.98).