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Hairston's pinch-hit homer helps Diamondbacks rally past Giants

Apr 29, 2007 - 6:37 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Scott Hairston's first home run in nearly three years trumped No. 742 by Barry Bonds.

Hairston hit a pinch-hit three-run homer off Vinnie Chulk in the seventh inning, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks rally past the San Francisco Giants, 5-4, for their fourth straight win.

The blast was his first homer since September 2, 2004, and superseded Bonds' first-inning two-run blast which moved the seven-time MVP within 13 of tying all-time leader Hank Aaron.

"I wanted to put a good swing on the ball and told myself to be aggressive," Hairston said. "It has been a while since I have done something like that, but as a player you have to be ready for everything and stay loose. It feels great and gives us more confidence."

The homer spoiled another outstanding outing by San Francisco starter Matt Cain, who yielded only a run, a fifth-inning single to Tony Clark and four walks in six innings. The 22-year-old righthander lowered his ERA to 1.54 - second best in the National League.

"I want to look after this kid," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who removed Cain after he allowed only five base runners. "He just came off a complete game. It just didn't work out tonight, we let this one get away.

"It is tough for Cain, but we want this guy all year. We want him fresh, and the bullpen has been throwing well. I had all the confidence that they would get it done but we made a couple of mistakes."

Trailing, 4-1, in the bottom of the seventh, Arizona's Chad Tracy led off with a single to left field off Jack Taschner. One out later Carlos Quentin walked before rookie Miguel Montero plated Tracy with a base hit to right field, cutting Arizona's deficit to 4-2.

After Chulk (0-1) relieved Taschner, Hairston pinch-hit for Dustin Nippert and belted the first pitch deep into the left field seats, giving the Diamondbacks their first lead at 5-4.

"Usually I take a pitch coming off the bench but that hasn't been working so I decided to try something new," Hairston said.

"It was sinker that just stayed up," Chulk said. "I was trying to get a ground ball and it didn't sink. I had to be a little more fine with it. You expect the sinker to sink and it didn't."

Nippert (1-0) earned the victory in relief of starter Edgar Gonzalez, pitching two scoreless innings with no hits. It was his first victory since beating the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 29, 2005.

Doug Slaten and Tony Pena combined to pitch the eighth inning before closer Jose Valverde allowed a lead-off single in the ninth to Pedro Feliz before retiring the next three batters for his 10th save in 11 chances.

Gonzalez started the game by walking Dave Roberts on four pitches. After recording two outs in the frame, the Diamondbacks decided to pitch to Bonds with first base open. Gonzalez served up a 1-1 pitch to Bonds, who sent it deep over the right-center field wall for his eighth homer of the season and an early 2-0 lead.

"That was not my crowing moment right there," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "At some point in time especially early in the game you want to set a precedent; you are not going to walk him every time. We are not scared to death of him but the minute I thought that and the ball leaves the ballpark you want to crawl in a hole.

"The base was open, every other time I had done it and we had success yesterday. You hate to affect the team that way, especially how well it worked the day before."

It was Bonds' second homer of the year off Gonzalez and the third career. It was also Bonds' 19th blast at Chase Field, the most by a visiting player.

"I had no curve tonight," Gonzalez said. "My curve was not working at all and I knew it when I was in the bullpen. It wasn't there but I tried to throw it anyway. That is what Barry Bonds hit. My location was the problem."

San Francisco added a run in the second, when Omar Vizquel walked with the bases loaded to score Bengie Molina. The Giants scored their final run in the fourth, when Feliz hit a 1-0 pitch from Gonzalez over the left field wall to put the Giants up, 4-0.

Gonzalez went five innings, allowing four runs, five hits and three walks.

Feliz had three hits for the Giants, who have lost two straight following an eight-game winning streak.