After a road trip win, the Diamondbacks are looking for more against the Red Sox

THE Arizona Diamondbacks one of the biggest surprise teams of the season and they are on a great journey. But they, too, drift into a downbeat moment as they open a three-game series against the team Boston Red Sox Friday night in Phoenix

This is only the third time Boston has played in Phoenix. THE Red Sox In 2007, they won two of three, and in 2019, Arizona won two of three. Boston has won 13 of the 21 overall meetings

THE Diamondbacks En route to their 30th win in 50 games Wednesday afternoon, they went 5-0 before falling to the host Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 in 10 innings.

Arizona also went 6-3 in games against the Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates. But seeing a 5-0 lead after 5 1/2 innings against the Phillies left them very unhappy. Diamondbacks

“It’s great to win this series, but the baseball games you’ve got to win, you’ve got to win,” said Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen, who led 5-0.

“I think that’s my feeling, just like an organization, if we want to go where we want to go, we’ve got to win the games we’ve got to win. The teams that have been successful in recent years, they’ve just found a way , to put the games away and found a way to win baseball games.

Arizona had won their previous four games, so the loss was even harder to accept.

“This game will tear your heart out,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.

Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer and Emmanuel Rivera had three RBIs Diamondbacks. Also, Ketel Marte went 2-for-5 to extend his career-best streak to 24.

Boston has dropped four straight, including three in Anaheim against the Los Angles Angels.

THE Red Sox They were outscored 20-4 and shut out twice during a four-game skid that began after winning the first two contests of a nine-game road trip.

Boston lost to the Angels 7-3 on Wednesday, but had eight hits, including a home run by Connor Wong. THE Red Sox he allowed just one run and six hits in the first two games of the series

“I think (Wednesday) was a lot better (offensively) than the last two nights.” Red Sox said manager Alex Cora. “We walked and hit some balls hard. Obviously at the end of the day the number is how many runs you score, but I think the approach is much better.

Boston star Rafael Devers hit the road with two home runs in a 6-1 win over the San Diego Padres last Friday, but went just 2-for-19 over the next five games.

Boston left-hander Chris Sale (4-2, 5.01 ERA) will take the mound Friday in his 10th start of the season. Sale struck out 62 in 50 1/3 innings, but also served up eight homers.

The 34-year-old has played well in his last two outings. He went one and three in eight innings in a no-decision against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 13, then allowed two runs and three hits over seven innings in a win over the Padres on Saturday.

In his last four outings, Sale has 32 strikeouts against three walks in 27 1/3 innings.

Longoria is just 6-for-38 with a career-high 15 strikeouts against Sale. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 3 for 18 with a homer.

Right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (0-1, 7.65) will make his fifth career start for Arizona. He served up seven homers in 20 innings.

Pfaadt, 24, took a no-decision in his last outing, giving up three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Pirates.

— Field Level Media