Ray matched his season-best strikeout total, passed Paul Skenes on the National League leaderboard and powered the Giants to a split in their four-game series with the Padres on Thursday. In his first start since being named the National League’s pitcher of the month, Ray struck out nine over seven innings in a 3-2 win.

One day after a newcomer contributed to the team's best offensive output in almost three weeks, the San Francisco Giants hope for more from another fresh face when they seek a four-game series split with the visiting San Diego Padres on Thursday afternoon.

Robbie Ray struck out nine in seven innings and became the National League’s first eight-game winner as the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres 3-2.