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Dunn plates go-ahead run as Diamondbacks edge Giants

Sep 19, 2008 - 5:42 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Adam Dunn singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 3-2 victory over Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.

Justin Upton tripled in two runs and Randy Johnson tossed seven strong innings for the Diamondbacks (76-76), who kept alive their fledgling playoff hopes with their fourth straight win. Arizona remained 3 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (80-73) in the National League West.

The Dodgers earned a 4-3 win in 12 innings over the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier Thursday.

With two outs in the eighth, Conor Jackson blooped a single to right field and stole second base. Dunn fought to a 3-2 count against Lincecum (18-4) before lining a changeup to center field to score Jackson and put the Diamondbacks on top, 3-2.

"It was a changeup, I think," Dunn said. "I don't know what he throws, to be honest. It wasn't great hitting, I just put the bat on the ball.

"(Lincecum) is one of, if not the best pitcher in the league, and to grind and battle to get the win - it's huge."

Lincecum, who is one of the leading contenders for the National League Cy Young award, cruised through the first five innings, allowing just two hits. But he ran into trouble in the sixth, when a leadoff double, a sacrifice and a hit batsman put runners on first and third.

After Dunn struck out for the second out, Upton hit a line drive into left field that rookie Eugenio Velez misplayed into a two-run triple.

"Off the bat, I knew I hit it pretty good," Upton said. "When he started to come in on it, I didn't know how good I got it. But for it to go over (Velez's) head, I knew I got it pretty good."

"I saw the ball like a line drive, and that's how I read it," Velez said. "Then when I was set and got a better look on the ball, I said, 'Wow, that's going to be a tough play,' so I jumped and tried to catch it, and I didn't."

It was the first loss since July 20 for Lincecum, who was charged with all three runs and seven hits while striking out six in his second career complete game.

"You want the kid to get a win so bad, and he pitched his heart out," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We're just having a hard time getting a hit with men on base. We had our opportunities to have a big inning and put the game away, and we were missing the big hit."

"We didn't want to come out and play the Diamondbacks like we did," Lincecum said. "Everyone is taking this loss pretty hard, and I think we should."

Bengie Molina ruined Johnson's chance for the 295th win of his career when he hit a solo blast off Juan Cruz (3-0) in the eighth to forge a 2-2 tie.

"(Johnson) matched (Lincecum), and in a little different style," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "He probably threw more breaking balls than I have ever seen him throw in a game. It felt like he didn't have his best fastball, and he found a way to do it. For a power pitcher for his whole career and to find another way to battle is pretty impressive, for me."

Johnson allowed one run and eight hits while walking one and striking out four.

Chad Qualls tosses a perfect ninth to notch his fifth save.