• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Reynolds' homer lifts Arizona past Marlins 4-3

May 22, 2009 - 3:07 AM By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer

MIAMI(AP) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks wore out Florida's bullpen, then reaped the rewards the next night.

With no veteran relievers available Thursday, the Marlins asked Cristhian Martinez to protect a one-run lead in his major league debut, and Mark Reynolds' two-run homer off the rookie in the eighth inning gave Arizona a 4-3 victory.

"To put a young guy in a situation like that, up a run, it's tough for anyone," Reynolds said. "We were able to capitalize on what he was out there doing."

Florida's relief corps was spent after a doubleheader split Wednesday, capped by Arizona's victory in a 13-inning nightcap that ended at 1:48 a.m.

The Diamondbacks managed only two runs in seven innings against Andrew Miller, then rallied. Martinez (0-1), summoned before the game from Double-A Jacksonville, retired the first two batters in the eighth and had an 0-2 count on Justin Upton but walked him. Reynolds hit the next pitch for his 12th homer and a 4-3 lead.

Reynolds went 7 for 16 in the series and has four homers and eight RBIs in the past six games.

"He gave me a slider over the middle of the plate," Reynolds said. "When I'm rolling like this, I just go up there and swing. Right now the barrel is finding the ball, and I don't want to think about it too much."

After the game, Martinez was optioned back to Jacksonville.

"I see it as a good experience," the right-hander said. "Every player wants this opportunity, to play up here. We all work for this. I know I can pitch here."

The Diamondbacks' Clay Zavada (1-0) also made his major league debut and pitched a perfect seventh.

"Both sides were aware of the toll Wednesday took," Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said. "It looked like it was going to come down to a battle of the new guys."

Tony Pena pitched around a double by Hanley Ramirez in the eighth, and Chad Qualls struck out the side in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances.

Arizona, trying to avoid the basement in the NL West, won three of four games in the series.

"We're playing with more confidence," said Hinch, who became manager May 8. "We got our swagger back a little bit. It's good to see the guys smile and shake hands on the field after the game."

The series success was bittersweet, however. Hinch said the Diamondbacks played with "heavy hearts" after pitcher Scott Schoeneweis' wife was found dead Wednesday at the couple's home in suburban Phoenix.

Florida lost for the ninth time in 11 games. Manager Fredi Gonzalez found a silver lining in the performance by Miller, who tied career highs by pitching seven innings and striking out nine.

"He was terrific, and I hope this is a stepping block," Gonzalez said. "I can't wait to see him in his next start."

Dan Uggla homered for the third game in a row for the Marlins.

Chris Snyder hit his fourth homer for Arizona, while Max Scherzer struck out 10 in six innings but allowed three runs.

The Marlins scored in the first on Jorge Cantu's two-out RBI single. They made it 2-0 in the second when Cody Ross singled and later came home from third on Emilio Bonifacio's two-out infield hit.

Miller limited the Diamondbacks to one hit until Ryan Roberts doubled in the sixth. He scored on Reynolds' two-out single.

Uggla hit his seventh homer with two out in the sixth.

Notes: Arizona RHP Kyler Newby, recalled before the game from Double-A Mobile, will be sent back there Friday. ... Ross left the game in the sixth inning with a migraine headache. He went 1 for 2, hiking his lifetime average against Arizona to .345. ... Miller had nine strikeouts against the same team on the same week last year - May 22, 2008. ... Scherzer struck out the side in the fourth, and Miller did the same in the top of the fifth. ... Arizona RHP Billy Buckner's start Friday at Oakland will be his first in the majors since Sept. 27, 2007, for Kansas City.