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Saturday, Apr. 29 2:20pm ET
Durazo's two-run single lifts D-backs in 10 | |||||
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- Erubiel Durazo isn't used to sitting on the bench. So when Arizona Diamondbacks manager Buck Showalter told him to pinch-hit in the 10th inning, he was just hoping to shake the rust long enough to make contact. He did better than that. Durazo drove in the game-winner with a two-run single Saturday as the Diamondbacks outlasted the Chicago Cubs 7-4. "It's my first full year in the big leagues and it's just an opportunity to be in the game," said the left-handed Durazo, who was on the bench because left-handed Scott Downs started. "I was looking to hit the ball. That's it." With the game tied at 4 and two outs, Durazo grounded a 2-2 pitch just past first baseman Mark Grace's outstretched hand and into the outfield, scoring Bernard Gilkey and Kelly Stinnett. And the Diamondbacks weren't done. Rick Aguilera walked Hanley Frias and Jay Bell to force in another run. The Cubs finally got out of the inning when Luis Gonzalez grounded out. "Aguilera was in a tough spot. He's just trying to pitch around bases loaded," Cubs manager Don Baylor said. "They couldn't get the double play at the end. They left too many people on base. You can't do that in extra-inning games." The Diamondbacks wouldn't have even needed Durazo's extra-inning heroics, but Henry Rodriguez hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth off reliever Matt Mantei (1-0) to tie the game at 4. It was Rodriguez's seventh homer of the season, and they've all come in the last 10 games. Mike Morgan pitched the 10th for his fourth save. "I didn't think it had a chance to go out," Mantei said, still shaking his head after the game. "I put my finger up in the air. I thought it was going to be a pop-up. But that guy owns me." Just as he did all game, though, Greg Colbrunn gave the Diamondbacks offense when they needed it. Colbrunn, who went 4-for-4 with two RBI, led off the 10th with a single off Mark Guthrie (2-2). He was then replaced by the swifter Travis Lee, who moved to second on Steve Finley's sacrifice bunt. Guthrie walked Gilkey intentionally, and then got in trouble when he skipped a pitch to Kelly Stinnett in the dirt. The ball hit the edge of the plate and took a wild bounce, allowing Lee and Gilkey to advance. Guthrie then walked Stinnett intentionally, loading the bases. That was it for Guthrie, who was replaced by Aguilera. The Cubs got Lee out at home on a fielder's choice, but Joe Girardi's throw back to first wasn't in time and pinch-hitter Lenny Harris reached to keep the bases loaded for Durazo. "Tough loss. You hate to come back like that and then not get the win. But a lot of people said we should have lost that game in nine," Grace said. "No one is disappointed in the effort we made." Colbrunn and starter Brian Anderson kept the Cubs in check through the first eight innings. Colbrunn, starting in place of Durazo at first, hit a solo homer, reached on every at-bat and came within a double of hitting for the cycle. He had a chance at the cycle in the eighth inning, but Cubs reliever Brian Williams walked him on a 3-2 count. He got another chance in the 10th, but fell short with another single. "It's tough," he said of his backup status. "It's just something you have to do. Go out there and try and stay as sharp as possible." Anderson knows the feeling. He missed his last start so Randy Johnson could stay on schedule, and will be pushed back again this week because of an off day. But Anderson doesn't seem to be effected by his wacky schedule. He gave up just two extra-base hits in the first eight innings, a double and a homer. He looked like he might get the sixth complete game of his career until Girardi reached on an error with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Mantei replaced him, and Rodriguez didn't waste much time taking him deep. "It was a tough ending to the ninth inning, but hey, we came right back with three runs in the 10th," Anderson said. "Bottom line is, we won the game."
Game notes | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Arizona Clubhouse Chicago Cubs Clubhouse RECAPS Cleveland 3 Boston 2
Arizona 7
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