BOSTON -- Right-hander Brad Ziegler has made a living baffling right-handed hitters with his submarine delivery, which is the main reason the Boston Red Sox acquired him on July 9.

Saturday, pitching against his old team, Ziegler showed just how devastating he can be against hitters from that side.

"He's one of the best relievers in the league right on right and that was on display here tonight," Boston manager John Farrell said after Ziegler came on with the bases loaded and nobody out and struck out three straight former Arizona teammates -- on 10 pitches, all strikes with only two foul balls -- to preserve the Red Sox' 6-3 inter-league victory over the Diamondbacks.

Entering the game, righty hitters were at .225 lifetime against Ziegler, while lefties, who get a much better look at the delivery, were at .271. But since joining the Red Sox, righties were 7-for-26 (.269) against him while lefties were just 4-for-19 (.211).

And then came Saturday night. Sandy Leon and Brock Holt both homered to key the offense but it was Ziegler who saved the night.

"You take deep breaths, try not to breathe a lot and focus on one thing," said Ziegler, already 0-3 with his new team. "I wasn't going for strikeouts -- maybe the first guy. I know any time I can get a double play. I was hoping to get a ground ball. I just got swing and misses."

Rickie Weeks, Yasmany Tomas and Chris Owings went down in order, Ziegler saying knowing his former mates could have helped.

"It did a little bit," he said. "I really don't have a great scouting report for those guys against submariners, we don't usually face a lot of them.

"If anything else, just knowing who likes to be aggressive with runners on base, if there's any things they really look for in that scenario. It's funny how much you can forget, being gone a month. The advance scouting report we had was a good report and refreshers for me."

Said Arizona manager Chip Hale: "Bases loaded nobody out, you're down three you want to at least get a couple there ... but he did a nice job. We've seen him do it [for us]. So you tip your cap to him.

"You hope our hitters will learn something for tomorrow and how they have to approach him. But he's not an easy guy to face, especially in this league. We don't see a lot of those guys any more. He did a nice job."

Craig Kimbrel, the sixth Boston pitcher in a game started by spot starter Clay Buchholz, worked a perfect ninth for his 19th save.

Leon, who also had a single and a walk and is hitting .390 in 123 at-bats, led off the fifth and keyed a three-run rally with his fifth homer of the season. Holt hit his first home run in 64 at-bats since July 19 (his sixth overall) in a two-run sixth.

Both homers came off Arizona starter Archie Bradley (4-8), who has won once since June 19. He was charged with six runs (four earned) in 5 1/3 innings.

Buchholz, twice demoted to the bullpen this season and replacing an injured Steven Wright, worked the first 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs in his first start since July 2. He will start Thursday in Detroit if Wright isn't ready.

Winner Robbie Ross Jr. (2-2) and Junichi Tazawa followed Buchholz.

Boston rookie Andrew Benintendi had two hits, an RBI and a run scored and is batting .379 in his first 10 major league games while Dustin Pedroia had two hits and an RBI.

Michael Bourn had two hits, an RBI, a walk and a run scored for the last-place Diamondbacks, who came into this series with a four-game winning streak and turn to ace Zack Greinke to try to avoid the sweep Sunday.

NOTES: RHP Jonathan Papelbon could be a target of the Red Sox. Boston president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the club will look into a possible reunion with the former Red Sox closer. Papelbon was released Saturday by the Washington Nationals. ... Boston CF Jackie Bradley Jr., who has been playing with a sore big toe, got a planned night off. ... LF Yasmany Tomas was back in the Arizona lineup after missing four starts with neck stiffness. ... Red Sox RF Mookie Betts received his July American League Player of the Month Award before the game. ... The Diamondbacks will send the MRI exam results of RHP Rubby De La Rosa (elbow) to Dr. James Andrews for further evaluation. He hasn't pitched since late May. ... There will be a matchup of hot pitchers Sunday with RHP Zack Greinke (11-3) facing Red Sox RHP Rick Porcello (15-3). Both have won nine of their last 10 decisions. Greinke returned from the disabled list (oblique) Tuesday. Porcello is 11-0 in 12 home starts and bids to become the first Boston pitcher to start a season 12-0 at home since Dave Ferriss was 13-0 in 1946.