• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Diamondbacks finally score runs, gain ground in NL West

Sep 18, 2008 - 5:35 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Brandon Webb settled down after a rough first inning, but it was his bat that sparked some life into the Arizona Diamondbacks' offense.

Webb pitched seven strong innings and hit a key two-run double during a big second inning as the Diamondbacks held on for a 7-6 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

Stephen Drew had four hits and Justin Upton hit a two-run homer for the Diamondbacks (75-76), who climbed within 3 1/2 games of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers (79-73) in the National League West Division.

"It was the first opportunity that we've had in a while. We look up there and (the Dodgers) lost and we can pick up a game, and we actually capitalized on it," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "We put together a big inning. It's nice to finally pick up a game - 3 1/2 (back) is better than 4 1/2."

Webb (21-7) allowed three runs - two earned - in the first inning but recovered to shut down the Giants the rest of the way. The righthander gave up eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts.

Arizona, which had averaged just 2.4 runs over its last 13 games, appeared to be in trouble when it fell into a 3-0 hole. Rookie Pablo Sandoval and Bengie Molina each had RBI hits for the Giants and John Bowker also plated a run with a fielder's choice.

But Webb helped his own cause in the second, igniting the rally by the Diamondbacks.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Webb tied the game with a double to center field on an 0-2 pitch from Jonathan Sanchez (9-11).

"It ended up being a pretty big hit," Webb said. "At the time, it put us kind of over the top a little bit. Just got a pitch up and was able to square it up and get two runs over."

Drew followed with an RBI single and Upton capped the frame with a two-run blast to center field just four pitches after Webb's hit to give Arizona a 6-3 lead.

It was Upton's third homer in his last four games.

"It's just one of those things that happens, guys get hot all the time. Right now, it's all about us winning ballgames," Upton said. "Whatever I can do. Lately, it's been quite a bit, and I'm pretty excited about it."

Sanchez allowed six runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings in losing for the seventh time in his last eight decisions.

"(Sanchez) had a rough start. He just had trouble getting the ball down and pitched up all night and paid for it," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "You're so close to getting out of that inning, and Webb's killed us with his hits this year. Two outs, two strikes, just made a mistake there, that's what did us in."

David Eckstein hit his first home run with Arizona in the sixth inning to open a 7-3 lead.

The Giants made the game interesting in the top of the ninth as Omar Vizquel had a two-run triple and scored on Rich Aurilia's groundout. But Tony Pena retired Dave Roberts and Randy Winn on groundouts to second to pick up his third save.