They've also won five out of their last six games against two of the best teams in the National League West, including the San Diego Padres (whose fortunes have taken a turn for the worst lately). The Snakes have played the spoiler role quite nicely against the Friars during their current three-game series, pounding the tar outta the team on Monday and staging a come-from-behind victory last night at Chase Field.
Pitcher Ian Kennedy got a rocky start on Tuesday evening, allowing the Friars' Adrián González and Ryan Ludwick to produce in back-to-back RBI singles and put his team up 2-0 in the first inning, but settled down sufficiently and changed up his game plan to dispatch San Diego over the next few frames. Mark Reynolds then came through with a two-run homer in the second after a Miguel Montero base hit to tie the score.
While the D-Backs pitcher tripped up a bit in the fourth inning (permitting a Nick Hundley RBI single), things really got going for the Snakes in the fifth. Kennedy was walked by San Deigo's Kevin Correia and subsequently wound up on third (via a fielder's choice) with Rusty Ryal on first. Kelly Johnson also got some base on balls action, which both loaded the bases and set the stage for a parade of runs.
A Chris Young RBI single sent Kennedy home, followed by a Montero ground-rule double that added another two to the scoreboard, and a Gerardo Parra base knock that yielded another pair of runs to give Arizona a 7-3 lead and put the win out of reach for the Padres. Even reliever Sam Demel's bullpen bungle in the ninth (where Hundley drove in Evan Cabrera with a double) couldn't deny the D-Backs victory.
The final game of the series takes place this afternoon Barry Eright (5-2, 2.44 ERA) will attempt to help his team sweep the Padres right out of Chase Field. His opponent will be Mat Latos (13-5, 2.29) and first pitch is at 3:10 p.m. TV: Fox Sports Arizona. Radio: KTAR 620-AM. More info: www.dbacks.com.
