D-backs Beat Phillies 4-2

The Arizona Diamondbacks (55-51) beat the Philadelphia Phillies (47-59) 4-2 Friday evening, to open up a three-game series in Philadelphia.

Arizona got on the board first with a solo home run to deep left field in the top of the second inning by outfielder Justin Upton, to put the snakes up 1-0. It was Upton’s 100th career home run, which was collected the same night his older brother BJ Upton collected his 100th home run in Tampa Bay.

The D-backs would add to their lead in the top of the fourth inning when Aaron Hill scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Third baseman Chris Johnson would add his eighth RBI as a D-back with an RBI single to center field later in the inning to score Upton from third, and extend the lead to 3-0.

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley would put the home team on the board with a solo home run to right field in the bottom half of the fourth inning.

Newly acquired outfielder Nate Schierholtz hit a sacrifice fly to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning to score Kevin Frandsen from third and cut the Arizona lead to 3-2.

D-backs outfielder Jason Kubel would continue his steller season with a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning to extend the Arizona lead to 4-2, and put the game out of reach for the Phillies.

Arizona starter Ian Kennedy provided a solid start, allowing only two earned runs off of seven hits over six innings pitched to earn his tenth victory of the season. JJ Putz would come into the game in the ninth to shut the door for the snakes and earn his 20th save of the season.

Joe Saunders will take the mound tomorrow evening for the D-backs in game two of the series.