Recap: Arizona vs. San Francisco
Sports Network | September 16, 2008
Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Adam Dunn hit the go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks kept pace in the NL West standings with a 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a four-game series from Chase Field.
Starter Doug Davis tossed seven innings and gave up just one unearned run on eight hits without walking a batter and Tony Pena (2-2) received the win with a perfect eighth. Chad Qualls came on in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season for the D'Backs, who snapped a two-game skid to keep from falling further back of Los Angeles in the division. Justin Upton hit a solo blast to account for Arizona's other run.
The Dodgers have won 13 of 15 overall to pull 4 1/2 games ahead of Arizona for the division lead while Arizona has lost eight of its last 10 games.
Brad Hennessey (1-2) went the distance but allowed the two home runs among the D'Backs' eight hits and took the loss. The right-hander struck out two and did not walk a batter in the eight-inning decision. San Francisco was coming off wins in its last three contests and is 9-3 over its past 12 contests.
Chris Young started the eighth with a single and, after David Eckstein failed on a sacrifice attempt and Upton lined out, Dunn stepped to the plate and turned on Hennessey's first-pitch fastball. The ball travelled over the fence in right field for a 3-1 lead. Qualls set the Giants down in order in the ninth to make the lead hold up.
Rich Aurilia ripped a single back through the middle with two away in the third and came home when Young misplayed a ball in center off the bat of Bengie Molina.
Upton erased the run one inning later with a leadoff homer to deep center field to tie the game 1-1.
Arizona now leads the season series 8-7...Tuesday's scheduled starters are Matt Cain (8-12) for the Giants and Dan Haren (14-8) for the D'Backs.
