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Estrada, Gross lead Brewers past Diamondbacks

Aug 22, 2007 - 6:03 AM By Bob Huhn PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Johnny Estrada had the most important hit but Gabe Gross' was more explosive.

Estrada drove in the go-ahead run and Gross hit a grand slam as the Milwaukee Brewers posted a 7-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

In the seventh inning, Bill Hall snapped a 2-2 tie when he doubled and came home on Estrada's RBI double against Arizona starter Livan Hernandez (9-8), who had his three-game winning streak ended.

J.J Hardy then singled and Rickie Weeks walked one out later to load the bases for Gross, who belted an 1-1 pitch from reliever Tony Pena into the right-center field stands for his second career grand slam.

"The game wasn't over at that point but it was a pretty big blow," Gross said. "There were a lot of good at-bats strung together and I was fortunate enough to be able to put one of out the ball park. Grand slams change ballgames pretty quick."

The 27-year-old Gross registered his first career grand slam on September 5, 2004 against the Oakland Athletics during his rookie campaign.

Starter Dave Bush (10-9) tossed six solid innings, yielding just two runs and six hits with six strikeouts to pick up his first win in four outings.

Francisco Cordero got the last out in the ninth for his 37th save as the Brewers (65-61) remained tied with the Chicago Cubs (64-60) for the lead in the National League Central.

"We have had great pitching and my offense is starting to get hot," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "My offense is starting to get it turned around. The pitching staff is, too. It was just a matter of time."

Milwaukee built an early 2-0 lead as Hall scored on center fielder Chris B. Young's fielding error in the second and Hardy added an RBI single three frames later. Hardy had three hits.

However, the Diamondbacks rallied in the sixth behind Young's solo homer - his 25th - and a run-scoring double by Stephen Drew.

Arizona had a chance to take the lead in the inning after Mark Reynolds was hit by pitch to load the bases. But Bush fanned rookie Justin Upton on a called third strike and induced Miguel Montero to fly out softly to left to end the threat.

"I put myself in a bind in the sixth inning giving up two runs and loading the bases but I got a big strike out when I needed it," Bush said. "That was a big spot. It could have gone either way but we were able to score runs right away."

"What was impressive to me was the way Bushy held the fort right there," Yost said. "He was cruising along then he spent every bit of reserve right there keeping the score tied at two. Then the boys bounced back and rewarded him with a 'W was awesome."

Hernandez gave up five runs and seven hits in six-plus innings.

"I had won three in a row but (Tuesday) was a rough one," Hernandez said. "The first two runs were with two outs and they hit good pitches. We tied it at two but I didn't do my job."

When Reynolds was hit by the pitch in the sixth, it snapped his personal strikeout streak at nine consecutive at-bats, which tied a major league record for a position player.

Arizona lost just its second series since the All-Star break, with the first coming against Milwaukee July 16-19.

"So we lost a series," Diamondbacks manger Bob Melvin said. "We had a chance to take the lead and maybe pull this one out on the sixth. When they get out of it, sometimes that swings the momentum back to the other dugout and they took advantage of it."