Houston, TX (Sports Network) – Juan Miranda smacked a couple of two-run home runs to help erase a six-run deficit and give Arizona a 7-6 victory over Houston to begin a three-game weekend series.
Daniel Hudson (6-5) earned the win despite allowing six runs — five earned — on eight hits and a walk in six innings. He also struck out four to give Arizona its 12th win in its last 14 games.
Wilton Lopez (1-2) took the loss when he allowed the winning run to cross the plate in the seventh inning. Brett Myers started the game and allowed four runs on five hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.
Michael Bourn went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored in the Astros’ second loss in three games.
Houston took and early two-run lead in the first after Bourn led off with a single and came around to score on a Hunter Pence double. Carlos Lee came up next and hit an infield single. On the play, Pence scored on Kelly Johnson’s throwing error and Lee was thrown out attempting to advance to second.
The Astros added to their lead in the second when Bourn hit a two-run double that plated Chris Johnson and Clint Barmes. Johnson led off the inning with a single and Barmes was hit by a pitch before both moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Myers. Jeff Keppinger then singled in Bourn to make the score 5-0.
Bourn’s RBI single in the fourth increased Houston’s lead to six runs.
Arizona got on the board in the fifth with a two-run home run by Miranda, and Miranda added his second two-run homer of the game in the sixth to make the score 6-4.
The D-Backs then took the lead with a three-run seventh inning. Pinch-hitter Willie Bloomquist singled off of Sergio Escalona, who was then replaced by Lopez. Ryan Roberts greeted Lopez with a single and Kelly Johnson then singled to score Bloomquist. Stephen Drew walked two batters later to load the bases and then Chris Young knocked in a run on an infield single to the pitcher. Lopez’s throwing error allowed another runner to score, which gave Arizona a 7-6 lead.
Similar to the play that injured Buster Posey on Wednesday, Humberto Quintero bent down to block home plate as Lopez tossed the ball to him and Roberts lowered his shoulder into Quintero’s chest. Quintero bent backwards awkwardly over his right ankle and stayed on the ground. He had to be helped off the field by his teammates and he was not putting any pressure on the foot. J.R. Towles replaced Quintero behind the plate.
David Hernandez did not allow a run in the eighth, and J.J. Putz threw a scoreless ninth inning to add on to his franchise record with 15 straight save to start the season.
Game Notes
Wandy Rodriguez was scratched from Saturday’s game due to discomfort in his left elbow and will have an MRI on his elbow on Saturday morning…Bud Norris will make the start instead of Rodriguez…Pence extended his hit streak to eight games…It was later determined that Quintero sprained his right ankle in the collision.