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D-Backs watch victory bounce Marlins’ way
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Adam Dunn lets home plate umpire James Hoye know his feelings after striking out in the eighth inning.
Julio Jimenez, Tribune
Randy Johnson pitches during MLB action between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Florida Marlins in Chase Field.
Julio Jimenez
The baseball gods were hard at work in the eighth inning Friday. The Diamondbacks might need to pray to them more. Peculiar bounces in both the top and bottom of the eighth inning benefited the team on defense each time, but Florida’s luck saved a run in a 5-4 win over Arizona (67-61) at Chase Field.
D-Backs notebok: Homer sends Montero on a tear
SLIDESHOW: Diamondbacks vs. Marlins
Alex Romero hit a ball destined for center field in the bottom of the eighth inning, but it kicked off the pitcher’s mound and to second baseman Dan Uggla, who turned a nifty double play.
If the ball had made it through, Miguel Montero probably would have scored from second base and the score would have been tied. Instead, the Marlins held on as Arizona missed a chance to move three games ahead of the Dodgers in the NL West.
“As soon as it’s hit, I’m thinking base hit,” Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. “All of a sudden it lost its steam.”
In the top of the inning, Josh Willingham hit a towering fly ball off Jon Rauch that deflected off Conor Jackson’s glove, then the top of the left-field wall before landing back in play.
Willingham didn’t get his home run, but nonetheless scored on a sacrifice fly to tie the score at 4. Cody Ross put the Marlins ahead one batter later with a solo homer to left field off Rauch.
In his last five innings of work, Rauch has given up six earned runs.
“Obviously I’ve got to get something right and go out there and start doing my job,” Rauch said.
Randy Johnson was superb, throwing seven innings and giving up just one earned run, although he did not factor in the decision. He allowed two unearned runs and Arizona committed three errors in the contest.
Johnson struck out 13 batters in the game, his most since Aug. 31, 2004, against the Dodgers.
“That was vintage Randy,” Melvin said.
Turning point: Alex Romero’s would-be single, with runners on first and second with one out in the eighth hit off the mound and right to Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla, who turned a double play. If it had gotten through, the score would have been tied.
Stat of the game: Randy Johnson struck out 13 batters, his most since striking out 15 on Aug. 31, 2004, against the Dodgers.
Unsung hero: Stephen Drew went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
Just missed: Josh Willingham thought he had a home run in the top of the eighth inning, but the towering shot to left field hit off Conor Jackson’s glove, then the top of the wall before landing back in play. Willingham ended up with a triple.
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