The NL West has been a jumbled mess of teams who can’t seem to take control. Leading the division almost by default, the Arizona Diamondbacks finally showed in the ninth inning Thursday that somebody has some life.
Conor Jackson bounced a two-run single through Milwaukee’s drawn-in infield, capping an improbable six-run rally to give Arizona a 6-5 victory over the Brewers and setting off a wild celebration around home plate.
“Hopefully this will kind of spark us and get us going,” said Chad Tracy, whose three-run, pinch-hit double was pivotal in the rally. “That looked like the old Diamondbacks right there, battling back and never giving up.”
The victory lifted the Diamondbacks to 43-43 and kept them 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in a division where it’s an almost foregone conclusion, even before the All-Star break, that only one team will make the playoffs.
Afterward, they still weren’t quite sure how they had done it.
“I was almost in shock, basically,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We played possum for eight innings, and in the ninth inning we surprised them. Don’t ask me.”
In other NL games, it was the Los Angeles Dodgers 5, Houston 2; San Francisco 8, the Chicago Cubs 3; Philadelphia 4, Atlanta 1; Cincinnati 5, Washington 3; the New York Mets 11, St. Louis 1, and Colorado 6, Florida 5 in 11 innings.
While the Diamondbacks poured from their dugout in jubilation following their ninth-inning surge, the Brewers were left with a bitter end to a 5-5 trip to Atlanta, Minnesota and Arizona.
“It was a very tough loss for us today, especially going into the ninth inning 5-0,” said closer Salomon Torres (4-2), who blew his third save in 18 chances. “It appears to be the deal was sealed, but apparently it wasn’t.”
Three Arizona reserves – Robby Hammock, Chris Burke and Augie Ojeda – breathed life into a seemingly moribund team. Hammock led off with a single against reliever Guillermo Mota. Burke drew a walk and then Ojeda loaded the bases with a scratch single to second.
Brian Shouse came on to face Tracy, batting for the pitcher, and he belted a pitch into the gap in right-center to clear the bases and make it 5-3.
“He’s started me out in the past with fastballs,” Tracy said, “and he gave me exactly what I was looking for, and I put a good swing on it.”
Brewers manager Ned Yost summoned Torres, who gave up a bloop single to Justin Upton, putting runners at the corners. Orlando Hudson’s double down the left field line made it 5-4, and Jackson followed with his single up the middle.
Leo Rosales (1-0) pitched the ninth for Arizona for his first major league victory.
“It’s just a situation you always dream of being in as a kid,” Jackson said. “You want to drive in the winning run, win the game and be the hero.”
Dodgers 5, Astros 2
At Houston, Chad Billingsley pitched eight strong innings and Andre Ethier homered for the second straight game to lead Los Angeles to its sixth win in seven road games.
Billingsley (8-7) gave up six hits, struck out five and did not allow an earned run to win his fourth straight start. Takashi Saito got the last three outs for his 14th save.
Brandon Backe (5-9) gave up all five runs for the Astros.
Giants 8, Cubs 3
At San Francisco, Tim Lincecum increased his NL-leading strikeout total to 122 with eight in six innings, and Rich Aurilia hit a three-run homer in the seventh to lead the Giants.
Lincecum (10-1) allowed seven hits and three runs, but got plenty of support. Fred Lewis hit an RBI triple in San Francisco’s four-run second.
Sean Gallagher (3-4) is winless in five starts after losing his third straight.
Phillies 4, Braves 1
At Atlanta, Cole Hamels came within one out of his second shutout of the Braves this season, capping the Phillies’ second series sweep in Atlanta this year.
Hamels (9-5) struck out seven and walked two before Tom Gordon got one out for the save.
Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz hit home runs for the Phillies.
Jair Jurrjens (8-4) gave up all three homers in taking the loss.
Reds 5, Nationals 3
At Cincinnati, Brandon Phillips had three hits and three RBIs, including the go-ahead two-run single after a costly error by relief pitcher Jesus Colome.
Johnny Cueto (7-8) allowed seven hits and three runs with one walk and eight strikeouts in seven innings for his second consecutive win after three straight losses.
Francisco Cordero pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save and first since June 25.
Mets 11, Cardinals 1
At St. Louis, Jose Reyes hit a bases-clearing triple to key New York’s six-run third, and the Mets finished off a winning series with 25 runs over the last three games.
Cardinals rookie Mitchell Boggs (3-1) surrendered 11 runs, 10 hits, six walks and two wild pitches in six innings. No relievers warmed up while he faced 10 batters in the third.
Mike Pelfrey (6-6) went seven innings to win his fourth straight on the road.
Rockies 6, Marlins 5, 11 innings
At Denver, Ryan Spilborghs delivered a game-winning, two-run single off Kevin Gregg with one out in the 11th inning for Colorado.
Gregg (6-3) blew his fifth save by walking Yorvit Torrealba, overthrowing first on Scott Podsednik’s sacrifice bunt and walking Troy Tulowitzki to set up Spilborghs’ winning hit.
Matt Herges (3-3) got the win despite allowing the go-ahead run in the 11th when Cody Ross doubled home Josh Willingham from first base with two outs.
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