Chavez leads Diamondbacks over Braves

Phoenix, AZ –  Eric Chavez went 2-for-3 and recorded two of his three RBI during a four-run fifth inning that paved the way for the Arizona Diamondbacks' 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the finale of a three-game set.

Didi Gregorius and Cody Ross each drove in a run during the rally, which made a winner out of Ian Kennedy (2-3), who had given up two runs in his fifth and final inning.

He struck out seven and allowed three runs in all on five hits. It's Kennedy's first victory since defeating the St. Louis Cardinals on Opening Day.

Heath Bell worked around a one-out double in the ninth to notch his sixth save and give the D'backs the series victory. Arizona has won seven of its last 10 games.

Tim Hudson (4-3) couldn't stop the bleeding for Atlanta, which is just 10-17 since its 12-1 start to the season. The righty was tagged for all five runs on eight hits over five frames.

"Just losing two out of three, you feel like we won a couple of those games because of the way we hit the ball," said Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez.

Freddie Freeman went 3-for-4 and plated all three runs for the Braves.

The Diamondbacks had just five hits in their last 56 tries with runners in scoring position coming into the contest, but matched that hit total during Wednesday's performance on eight chances.

"We just try and get good at-bats, for some reason we're not pushing a lot of runs across the board right now," said Chavez. "But that's going to change, just keep swinging the bats, have good approaches and put some runs on the board."

After putting Arizona in a two-run hole in the fifth, Kennedy was pinch-hit for in the bottom half by Jason Kubel, whose one-out walk sparked a four-run inning.

Gerardo Parra followed with a single and Gregorius pounded one up the middle to plate a run. Two batters later, Chavez ripped a double to center to put the D'backs back in front before Ross made it 5-3 with an RBI single into right.

Paul Goldschmidt ripped his first of three doubles on the day in the first inning and Chavez gave the D'backs a 1-0 lead when he grounded a base hit past the diving reach of shortstop Andrelton Simmons.

Kennedy was cruising along until he surrendered a pair of two out singles in the third and then threw eight straight balls in walking Justin Upton and Freeman to force in a run.

Freeman came to bat again in the fifth, and with runners on first and second, sent a double in the gap in center field to clear the bags and stake Atlanta to a 3-1 edge.

Hudson, though, couldn't hold the lead. He gave it right back in the bottom half as eight Diamondbacks came to plate before getting out of the frame behind by two runs.

Game Notes

Hudson suffered his career defeat to the Diamondbacks. He was 7-0 in nine career outings coming in ... The Braves have lost five of their last six games ... Atlanta was just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position ... Arizona had 10 hits and scored more than three runs for the first time in five games.

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Diamondbacks down Rockies

Phoenix, AZ –  J.J. Putz worked out of a jam in the ninth and the Arizona Diamondbacks held on for a 4-2 victory to capture their third win of a four-game set with the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field.

The Rockies had runners on second and third with two out for pinch-hitter Carlos Gonzalez, but Putz struck him out to notch his fifth save and secure Arizona's sixth win in eight contests.

Patrick Corbin (3-0) worked out of trouble most of the game, giving up nine hits over 6 2/3 frames. However, Colorado was just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and managed just two runs.

"He didn't walk anybody. He just keeps the ball in play," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said of Corbin. "We made some good plays behind him today. We took care of the ball really good."

Cody Ross and Josh Wilson chipped in an RBI apiece in the victory. Jason Kubel made his return from the disabled list, but went 0-for-3.

The Rockies, losers in six of eight since a hot 13-4 start, saw star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki exit the contest with a left shoulder strain.

When he was thrown out at the plate in the first inning, Tulowitzki appeared to sustain the injury on an awkward slide. He was replaced in the field by Jonathan Herrera in the third and the team is calling him day- to-day.

"It sounds like he kind of jammed his shoulder sliding into the plate," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said of Tulowitzki. "We'll have to reevaluate him tomorrow, see how it feels tomorrow."

Jon Garland (2-2) was tagged for four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits and two walks. Eric Young had three doubles and scored a run on Dexter Fowler's base hit in the setback.

Arizona took advantage of Garland's control issues in the third and grabbed an early 2-0 lead.

While facing Kubel with runners on second and third, Garland's pitch got away from catcher Wilin Rosario and Cliff Pennington scored easily. Gerardo Parra advanced to third on the play and then also crossed the plate when Garland threw a wild pitch.

The D'Backs then added a run in the third and fourth innings to build a four- run cushion. Wilson doubled home Paul Goldschmidt, who singled to start the fourth, and after Parra began the fifth with a triple, Ross sent him home with a base hit to center.

Colorado cut its deficit in half in the sixth, which Young led off with his third straight double. He then came around to score on a single from Fowler, who moved to third on a bunt by Herrera and crossed the plate on a wild pitch from Corbin.

The Rockies, though, were unable to score in the first, fourth, seventh and ninth innings, stranding runners in scoring position in each.

Game Notes

The Diamondbacks placed shortstop Didi Gregorius on the 7-day DL with a mild concussion prior to the game. The move is retroactive to April 27 ... The Rockies designated infielder Chris Nelson for assignment and infielder Nolan Arenado made his big-league debut. He went 0-for-3 with a walk.

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Goldschmidt powers Diamondbacks past Rockies

Phoenix, AZ –  Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Colorado Rockies, 3-2, in a National League West matchup on Thursday.

Wil Nieves drove in the other run for the Diamondbacks, who saw starter Trevor Cahill (1-3) allow an unearned run on four hits and four walks over five innings, despite needing 105 pitches to finish his outing. J.J. Putz pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his fourth save and help his team win the first of a four-game series against the Rockies.

"We were able to scrape across a couple of runs," Goldschmidt said. "The pitching has been doing so well lately. They've been keeping us in a lot of games."

Troy Tulowitzki had an RBI and Michael Cuddyer scored on a fielding error by Martin Prado for the Rockies. Starter Jorge De La Rosa (2-2) surrendered three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits and three walks in six innings.

"I think he was really using his pitches efficiently," Colorado outfielder Eric Young, Jr. said of Cahill. "He was able to get the sinker."

Nieves' RBI single in the second put the Diamondbacks on the board, scoring Goldschmidt, who reached first on an error by Ryan Wheeler and advanced to second on a single by Cody Ross.

In the fourth, with two outs and Cuddyer on third, Yorvit Torrealba hit a grounder that Prado was unable to get a grip on, allowing Cuddyer to reach home.

However, Prado made up for the error in the bottom of the inning by hitting an infield single to leadoff and advanced to second on a wild pitch by De La Rosa, setting up Goldschmidt's two-run smash.

With two outs in the seventh, Tulowitzki doubled to deep right, plating Young, who also doubled to leadoff the frame.

Putz came to close in the ninth. He walked Dexter Fowler with two outs, but struck out Carlos Gonzalez to end the game.

Game Notes

The Rockies placed Todd Helton (forearm) on the 15-day disabled list. To replace Helton, the team recalled Wheeler from Triple-A Colorado Springs ... The Rockies were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base ... Nieves was a perfect 3-for-3 ... Gonzalez struck out three times ... Gerardo Parra was caught stealing for the fourth time this season, most in the league ... De La Rosa is 0-4 in six starts at Chase Field.

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Diamondbacks edge Giants in extras again

Published April 24, 2013

Sports Network

San Francisco, CA –  Wil Nieves hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th inning to plate the go-ahead run and help the Arizona Diamondbacks defeat the San Francisco Giants, 3-2, on Wednesday in the rubber match of a three-game set.

Gerardo Parra scored one run and had an RBI, Didi Gregorius had two doubles and a run scored and A.J. Pollock also drove in one run for the Diamondbacks, who have won two straight.

Ian Kennedy, who was trying for a sixth straight win versus the Giants, gave up just four hits and one run over six frames. He also walked two and fanned four. David Hernandez (1-1) earned the win despite blowing a save in the ninth.

Brandon Crawford tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth with a solo shot to right and finished with three hits and two RBI. Chad Gaudin (0-1) absorbed the loss.

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Court hits 2-run single in 8th to lift Diamondbacks to 4-2 win over White Sox

Published March 20, 2013

Associated Press

GLENDALE, Ariz. –  Ryan Court hit a tiebreaking two-run single against Dylan Axelrod in the eighth inning to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

Arizona starter Brandon McCarthy gave up 10 hits but only two runs over six innings. McCarthy allowed a home run to Jordan Danks, who continued his torrid pace with two hits. After a horrendous start, Danks has 12 hits in his last 17 at-bats, although he remains a long shot to make the Opening Day roster.

Jeff Keppinger was 2 for 2 and is 14 for 28 this spring for the White Sox.

A.J. Pollock homered against White Sox starter Gavin Floyd leading off the second inning. Floyd allowed two runs and seven hits over five innings.

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Jeff Samardzija, prepping for opener, homers in Cubs' 7-5 win over Diamondbacks

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. –  Jeff Samardzija homered and allowed four runs over 4 2-3 innings Monday in the Chicago Cubs' 7-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-5.

Samardzija, prepping for an opening-day start at Pittsburgh on April 1, gave up four hits and two walks and struck out two. He hit a solo homer to center in the fifth against Eury De la Rosa that pulled the Cubs to 3-2.

Wellington Castillo tied the score 4-4 with a two-run homer off David Holmberg in the sixth, and Darwin Barney gave the Cubs a 6-4 lead with a two-run double against Holmberg in the seventh.

Adam Eaton hit a two-run homer in the third and is batting .400 (16 for 40).

Arizona starter Trevor Cahill allowed one run and three hits in four innings, walked none and struck out five, fanning the side in the second.

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Khris Davis homers for 3rd straight day to send Brewers to 4-3 win over Diamondbacks

PHOENIX –  Khris Davis hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, his third straight game with a homer, and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 on Thursday.

Eric Chavez gave Arizona a 2-0 lead in the third with a two-out home run just to the right of the batters' eye in center field, his first of the spring.

Milwaukee tied it at 2 in the bottom of the inning on Alex Gonzalez's towering homer to the top of the grass berm in left.

The Diamondbacks made it 3-2 in the top of the eighth when Rossmel Perez stole third and scored when Adam Weisenburger's throw sailed into the outfield.

Bo Schultz walked Hunter Morris to begin the eighth and David homered to give the Brewers their first lead.

Arizona starter Wade Miley threw two scoreless innings, walking two and striking out two.

Mark Rogers started and went three innings for the Brewers, allowing two unearned runs and three hits and three walks.

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