The New York Mets keep finding ways to win in Arizona.
The Mets beat the Diamondbacks for the 15th time in 17 tries with a 5-2 victory on Sunday. New York took two of three from the Diamondbacks, handing Arizona just its second series loss of the season. The only other series Arizona lost was its season-opening set at Cincinnati.
“Only the second series we’ve lost and it came right down to the ninth inning,” Arizona starter Dan Haren said. “You know, they’re a good ball club, the Mets. I’m sure they’ll be there at the end. I’m sure we’ll be there at the end. We played them tough. They played us tough. This game could have gone either way.”
The game came down to two late throws. The Mets made theirs, the Diamondbacks didn’t.
First baseman Conor Jackson’s ninth-inning throwing error allowed Carlos Beltran to score the go-ahead run from second.
With the score tied at 2 in the ninth, Beltran and Moises Alou singled off reliever Chad Qualls. Carlos Delgado grounded to Jackson, who overthrew shortstop Augie Ojeda to allow Beltran to score.
New York went on to load the bases and get an RBI single by pinch hitter Marlon Anderson and a sacrifice fly by Jose Reyes.
Qualls (0-2) gave up three runs, one earned, in one inning. Jorge Sosa (4-1) pitched two-thirds of an inning to get the victory. Billy Wagner threw a perfect ninth for his seventh save in eight tries.
In other NL games Sunday, it was Florida 10, San Diego 3; Houston 8, Milwaukee 6 in 12 innings; Philadelphia 6, San Francisco 5; Washington 5, Pittsburgh 2; Colorado 7, the Los Angeles Dodgers 2; St. Louis 5, the Chicago Cubs 3; and Atlanta 14, Cincinnati 7.
Moments before Jackson’s error, in the eighth, Chris Burke laid down a bunt and pitcher Pedro Feliciano threw wildly past first base. Burke raced to second, then was waved to third by third base coach Chip Hale.
Meanwhile, right fielder Church chased down the ball and threw perfectly to third, where David Wright tagged Burke out.
“The biggest thing was just getting the grip of it and letting it go, basically chuck it,” Church said. “David did a great job of deking the runner a little bit, just grabbed it and snapped tag.”
Marlins 10, Padres 3
At Miami, Greg Maddux failed in his fourth bid to reach 350 victories when he was outpitched by young Andrew Miller in a loss to Florida. Maddux (2-3) twice failed to hold a lead, and he allowed 11 hits and five runs, four earned, in 5 2-3 innings.
Miller (2-2) earned his seventh career win.
Dan Uggla hit his seventh homer, doubled twice, drove in three runs and scored three times for the Marlins, who took two of three games in the series.
Astros 8, Brewers 6, 12 innings
At Houston, Hunter Pence hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 12th to lead Houston. The home run to left field scored Lance Berkman and completed Houston’s comeback for its third straight win.
Mitch Stetter (1-1) gave up Pence’s homer, his fourth of the season.
With two outs in the 12th, Houston’s Tim Byrdak (1-0) loaded the bases with walks but left fielder Darin Erstad caught J.J. Hardy’s pop fly for the final out.
Phillies 6, Giants 5
At Philadelphia, Pat Burrell had two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Phillies past the Giants for manager Charlie Manuel’s 500th career victory.
Brad Lidge (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.
Keiichi Yabu (2-2) took the loss for the Giants. Yabu walked Ryan Howard and Burrell with two outs, setting up Geoff Jenkins’ at-bat.
Nationals 5, Pirates 2
At Washington, Tim Redding allowed one run over 6 1-3 innings, Aaron Boone homered and the Nationals beat the Pirates.
Redding (4-2) closed out an 11-game homestand, Washington’s longest of the season, by helping the Nationals to their sixth victory in seven games.
Pittsburgh starter Ian Snell (2-2) took the loss.
Rockies 7, Dodgers 2
At Denver, Aaron Cook gave the Rockies the strong outing they needed, Matt Holliday had two hits and two RBIs and Colorado beat the Dodgers to end a four-game losing streak.
It was the fifth time Cook (5-1) stopped a Rockies’ losing streak, and for the third straight start he ended a four-game losing streak. The Rockies are 6-1 when Cook starts and 6-18 in other games.
Andre Ethier homered for the Dodgers, who had their eight-game winning streak snapped. Derek Lowe (2-2) took the loss.
Cardinals 5, Cubs 3
At St. Louis, Albert Pujols reached base for the 32nd consecutive game, one shy of his personal best to start the year, and did it with a key two-run double in the fourth inning.
Todd Wellemeyer (3-1) beat the team that drafted him in 2000 and gave him his first shot in the major leagues with five solid innings, helping the Cardinals take two of three from their Central Division rival.
The Cardinals beat up on former teammate Jason Marquis (1-2), who allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings.
Braves 14, Reds 7
At Atlanta, Chipper Jones drove in five runs and Atlanta scored seven runs in the second inning to beat Cincinnati and complete a three-game sweep.
Jones hit his ninth homer – a three-run shot off Bronson Arroyo in the seven-run second. Kelly Johnson was 4-for-6 and Mark Kotsay was 3-for-4 with a homer.
Arroyo (1-4) lasted only 1 1-3 innings, the shortest of his 166 career starts. His ERA climbed to 8.63 as he gave up seven hits and seven runs with a walk.
Add A Comment