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Diamondbacks edge Phils to start another win streak

May 8, 2007 - 6:04 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The up-and-down Arizona Diamondbacks are apparently on the way back up.

Carlos Quentin drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Diamondbacks won a second straight game in Monday's 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Arizona has had two six-game winning streaks but also has lost five straight contests twice.

The Diamondbacks snapped their most recent five-game skid with a 3-1 triumph over the New York Mets on Sunday and added another win thanks to Quentin and closer Jose Valverde.

"We have been up and down and struggling at times but the coaching staff has been awesome keeping us all positive," Quentin said. "They are picking us up and talking to us telling us their experiences and they have lot of faith in us."

Philadelphia got consecutive two-out doubles from Aaron Rowand and Wes Helms in the eighth inning off Brandon Lyon (3-1) to tie the game at 3-3. Arizona answered in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.

In the bottom half, Eric Byrnes walked with one out and advanced to third on a single by Stephen Drew against Francisco Rosario (0-2). Quentin followed with a single to the gap in left to make it 4-3.

"You get two strikes you are looking for contact but you still want to stay with the approach and not be hesitant, " Quentin said. "I was keeping that aggressive mind set I wanted to attack the ball and put it in play. I stayed relaxed and felt like I was going to get the job done and fortunately I did."

Arizona has had little success recently against Philadelphia, going 1-5 last season and 5-14 since 2004.

Arizona starter Doug Davis did his part to reverse the recent trend against Philadelphia, allowing two runs and five hits in six innings. Davis has allowed two earned runs or less in six of his seven starts.

"I had trouble with my curveball early but I still had my fastball and cutter," Davis said. "I was able to work those two pitches inside and that was my equalizer to right handed batters. I was able to throw that effectively and was able to get some outs and keep it a close game."

Valverde pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save in 14 chances, including retiring pinch hitter Ryan Howard. Valverde busted him inside with four pitches and got the reigning National League MVP to pop out in foul territory down the third base line.

Freddy Garcia gave the Phillies a strong start after being questionable to pitch at all, yielding two runs and five hits in six innings.

"Freddy did good and had some easy innings," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He had a low pitch count tonight which was amazing. I didn't want to take him out of the game. Once we got a guy down at second I had to, to try and win the game."

Garcia hurt his left leg running into a cart during batting practice in San Francisco on Sunday and the team waited until three hours before the game to announce that Garcia would start.

"I don't have any problem with my leg," Garcia said. "I was fine last night. We worked on it with a lot of ice and at the end of the game I could walk fine My problem was the walks."

Abraham Nunez had three hits for Philadelphia, which managed only seven hits and dropped to 3-5 on its 10-game road trip.

Arizona took a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Orlando Hudson. Quentin led off the fifth with a double and scored on a single by rookie Alberto Callaspo to make it 2-0.

Philadelphia tied the game with two runs in the seventh before Chad Tracy lifted a sacrifice fly against reliever Antonio Alfonseca in the bottom half of the inning to give Arizona a 3-2 lead.

The Diamondbacks had 10 hit in the game. It was the first time they reached double-digit hits in a game since April 30, when they collected 17 hits against the Dodgers.

"Our approach was better today. I think its coming offensively," Diamondback manager Bob Melvin said. "We got the heed of the bat out a few times tonight. Later in the game the at bats got better and better. I felt like in batting practice and the mood seems to be a little bit better so I think it is coming."