Diamondbacks 7 - 6 Cardinals
Final
  for this game

Johnson belts grand slam in Diamondbacks' win

Jul 9, 2011 - 6:16 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Kelly Johnson hit a grand slam in the seventh inning and Arizona held on to beat St. Louis, 7-6, in the second edition of a four-game series from Busch Stadium.

Chris Young posted two hits and two RBI and Miguel Montero drove in the other run for the D-Backs, who have taken four of their last five.

Ian Kennedy (9-3) yielded six hits and three runs over six innings for the win. The 26-year-old tied his career-high in wins, set last year when he finished 9-10 for Arizona.

Matt Holliday hit a solo homer and knocked in two runs for the Cardinals, who have dropped five of seven. Daniel Descalso posted a two run double, while Lance Berkman homered among his two hits and scored twice in the setback.

Kyle Lohse (8-6) was charged in defeat for seven runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 frames.

"I have to locate my pitches better," Lohse said. "I was trying to be too fine."

The D-Backs pulled ahead for good in the seventh. Juan Miranda singled with one out, Gerardo Parra walked and Ryan Roberts added a pinch-single before Johnson launched a grand slam to make it a 7-3 game for the visitors. Two batters later, Lohse exited for Jason Motte, who managed to keep it a four-run margin.

Holliday began the home eighth with a homer to left, then Berkman singled and Nick Punto added a two-out pinch-hit single. Descalso brought two home with a double for a 7-6 game, and though Skip Schumaker walked, David Freese struck out swinging to end the inning.

David Hernandez earned his fifth save in as many tries and seventh overall after a scoreless ninth, but it wasn't easy. Albert Pujols worked a leadoff walk, then Berkman reached on an error with one out. However, Colby Rasmus struck out and pinch-hitter Jon Jay grounded out to end the game.

"I definitely had a little more adrenaline tonight," Hernandez said. "Facing Pujols, Berkman and Holliday is a tough situation."

Berkman's one-out solo homer put the Cards on the board in the second, then a Pujols sacrifice fly and a Holliday RBI double made it 3-0 for the home team in the third. St. Louis failed to widen its gap despite loading the bases with one out.

Arizona countered in the fourth with three runs. Stephen Drew doubled and Justin Upton walked before both scored on a triple by Young -- who then scored when Montero followed with a base hit.

Game Notes

Arizona has won three of the five meetings thus far with St. Louis...Johnson's 16 homers are the most by an Arizona second baseman prior to the All-Star break in team history...It was his second slam of the season, and first since May 21...Berkman's homer was his 351st career, moving him ahead of Chili Davis for fourth-most in history among switch-hitters. His 24 longballs are the most since he hit 29 before the Mid-Summer Classic for Houston in 2002.






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