D-backs Lose 5-4, Drop Finale

The Arizona Diamondbacks (55-53) lost 5-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies (49-59) to drop the finale of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon.

Arizona got off to a quick start on Sunday evening when third baseman Chris Johnson homered to left center in the top of the second inning, scoring Justin Upton and putting the snakes up 2-0. They would add another run in the very next at bat when Stephen Drew pounded his fist home run of the season to extend the lead to 3-0.

Philadelphia responded in the bottom of the second inning when Philadelphia outfielder John Mayberry Jr. scored on a wild pitch by Arizona starter Trevor Cahill. Phillies catcher Erik Kratz doubled to deep left field to score outfielder Dominic Brown, and cut the Arizona lead to 3-2.

Chase Utley would then homer to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game up at 3-3.

Arizona responded in the top of the sixth inning with a solo home run by first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, putting the D-backs back on top 4-3.

Things would get interesting in the bottom of the eighth inning. Mayberry Jr. would advance to second base on a wild pitch by Arizona reliever David Hernandez, putting a runner on second with two outs. Brown followed by hitting a ground ball off the leg of Hernandez, after which Hernandez would pick up and throw off Brown’s back as he reached first base safely. As the ball was thrown away, Mayberry Jr. advanced from second all the way home. Goldschmidt picked the ball up in time to throw a strike to catcher Henry Blanco at the plate, and it appeared that Mayberry was out, but was called safe by home plate umpire Derryl Cousins, and tying the game up at 4-4.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Howard singled to right field off of Arizona reliever Josh Collmenter to score Juan Pierre from third and give Philadelphia the walk off win.

Collmenter would pick up the loss as he allowed the winning run to cross home in the ninth. Unfortunately for Trevor Cahill, the Arizona starter would pick up the no decision after allowing three runs off six hits in seven strong innings pitched.

Arizona sends pitcher Wade Miley to the mound tomorrow as the D-backs open up a four game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh.