PHOENIX – Kelly Johnson hit a grand slam off Matt Capps in a six-run eighth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to beat the Minnesota Twins 9-6 on Saturday night for their fifth straight victory, their longest streak in two seasons.
Arizona overcame a season-worst five errors, three in the eighth inning, for their seventh win in the last eight games.
Johnson, batting .185 after going 0 for 4 up to that point, lofted the 2-1 pitch from Capps (1-3) deep into the seats in right field, the second slam of his career.
Danny Valencia went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs for the Twins, who led 6-3 after 7 1/2 innings.
Juan Miranda doubled twice and drove in three runs for Arizona. Gerardo Parra had a pair of bunt singles, one of them driving in a run.
J.J. Putz threw a scoreless ninth for his 11th save in 11 tries, the longest string of consecutive saves to start a season in franchise history. Aaron Heilman (3-0) was the winner.
Capps, Minnesota's closer, entered the game in the eighth after reliever Glen Perkins left with an injury, the extent of which was not immediately known.
Miranda's second double of the night brought in Arizona's first two runs of the eighth. Parra followed with a bunt single over Valencia's head at third base, then Roberts singled to load the bases for Johnson.
Minnesota led 6-3 after scoring twice when the Diamondbacks committed two errors on the same play in the eighth.
The first was charged to right fielder Justin Upton on a throw home that was off the mark as one runner scored on Valencia's single. Heilman, backing up the play, threw wild to second trying to catch Valencia advancing. Shortstop Stephen Drew threw home after that but Michael Cuddyer was called safe on a close play.
Valencia's bare-handed play on a ground ball helped the Twins to hold on after the Diamondbacks scored two in the sixth to make it a one-run game.
The rally spoiled a strong outing for the Twins' Scott Baker, who gave up three runs on four hits in five-plus innings. He struck out seven and walked three, one intentionally. Micah Owings, just called up from Triple-A Reno, went 5 1-3 innings for Arizona, giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits.
The Twins broke a 1-1 tie with an unearned run on the second baseman Johnson's throwing error in the fifth. Delmon Young singled and took second on a wild pitch. After two outs, Johnson fielded Denard Span's grounder but, as he was falling backward, threw a bouncer to first base that Miranda failed to scoop up.
Jason Kubel's leadoff home run to deep right in the sixth boosted the lead to 3-1. Justin Morneau singled, took second on a wild pitch, then scored on Valencia's single to make it 4-1, ending Owings' night.
Stephen Drew and Young started the Arizona sixth with doubles and Baker was finished. With runners at second and third and one out, Parra put down a bunt down the left field line for a single, sending Young home on a safety squeeze to cut the lead to 4-3. With runners at first and second, pinch hitter Willie Bloomquist hit a slow bouncer to third. Valencia barehanded it and threw the runner out, then Ryan Roberts flew out to right to end the inning.
NOTES: The crowd of 39,776 — on All-Star game garden gnome giveaway night — was Arizona's second-largest of the season. ... After a major league-worst 18 home runs through 41 games, Minnesota has eight in its last three contests. ... Arizona rookie left-hander Joe Paterson allowed a run for the first time in his 20 games this season. ... Arizona has two grand slams this season. Drew had the other.
0 comments: on "SPORTS - When will NFL players begin to get restless? (AP)"
Post a Comment