Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Trevor Cahill exited Wednesday afternoon's 3-1 win against the Miami Marlins early after suffering a right hip contusion in the first inning. No problem. Reliever Josh Collmenter entered the game in the second inning and proceeded to shut down the light-hitting Marlins for six innings, striking out seven and giving only a hit and a walk.
Then, in the eighth inning of the scoreless game, pinch-hitter Cody Ross launched a three-run home run, his third of the year, to seal the deal.
D-backs closer Heath Bell tried to make it interesting in the ninth inning, giving up one run (on a Justin Ruggiano lead-off homer) on two hits and a walk. But with two men on, Bell got Logan Morrison to strike out looking to knock off the Marlins. The D-backs walked away with two of three games in the series.
With the win, the D-backs maintained their 1.5-game NL West lead over the San Francisco Giants, who knocked off the hot San Diego Padres for the second day in a row.
The D-backs will take the day off Thursday before hosting the Cincinnati Reds for a three-game series starting Friday at 9:40 p.m. Johnny Cueto (4-0, 2.08 earned-run average) will pitch for the Reds, while struggling Wade Miley (4-6, 4.64) will take the mound for the D-backs.
TV: Fox Sports Arizona. Radio: KTAR 620 AM. More info: www.dbacks.com.
