Big innings key D-Backs’ sixth straight victory

PHILADELPHIA - The Diamondbacks’ streaks — hitting and winning — go on. And so, apparently, will one of the key components, Mark Reynolds, who had only a scrape on the right side of his face, a stiff neck and a brief loss of memory to show for a frightening collision with teammate Brandon Medders that threatened to mar the D-Backs’ 11-5 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Reynolds and Medders collided while attempting to field a Michael Bourn bunt in the top of the seventh inning as the D-Backs held a 5-1 lead, with Reynolds’ neck striking Medders in the right side.

Reynolds remained on the field for several minutes – he does not remember how long – and eventually flipped onto his back before being helped off the field by trainers Dave Edwards and Ken Crenshaw.

“It could have been a lot worse. When he was lying there, I thought it was,” Medders said.

The D-Backs (31-23) got out of the inning when Tony Pena induced a double-play grounder to hold a 5-3 lead, then had their second five-run inning in the eighth to reach a seasonhigh eight games over .500

Reynolds could laugh about it afterward, when Xrays showed no damage, the same way he has shrugged off a foul ball off his left shin and a collision with the tarp while chasing a foul ball in Monday’s game, and a foul ball off the top of his right foot in the first inning Tuesday.

“I guess I have to start putting the ball in play,” said Reynolds, who assured his parents he was OK when they called immediately after he got into the clubhouse.

His apparent health enabled the D-Backs to enjoy their sixth straight victory, their ninth in 11 games.

Reynolds, whose arrival May 16 coincided with the D-Backs’ offensive surge, had a double in four at-bats as the D-Backs tied their season-high with 17 hits and benefited from three Phillies errors.

Orlando Hudson tied his career high with four hits, and Stephen Drew had three hits and drove in three runs.

Coincidence or not, the D-Backs’ offense got legs when Reynolds was purchased from Double-A Mobile on May 16 – they have 77 runs in their last 12 games after failing to score as many as five once in the first 15 games of May.

Medders, who replaced Micah Owings (4-1) in the sixth, cruised through his first inning before Bourn bunted to lead off the seventh.

“I was just going for the ball. I didn’t see him until the last second,” Medders said.

“I made a quick decision to get the hell out of the way, because he was coming pretty hard. I just tried to stop because we could have met head on. I couldn’t get out of the way.”

Reynolds was down and did not move for several moments, raising concerns of a more serious injury.

“I just remember the bunt, and the next thing I was laying on the ground,” Reynolds said.

“It happened real quick. I was lying there, kind of woozy. They told me I was down there for a few minutes. I don’t really remember. When the trainers got out there I really didn’t want to move, because my neck felt really bad.

“Once I came in and got some ice on it and X-rays were negative, I felt a little better. It’s a little stiff, but I’ll be back in there tomorrow.”

Back in there tomorrow?

“I don’t want to come out and get Wally Pipped,” Reynolds said, referring to the New York Yankees’ first baseman replaced by Lou Gehrig, who then played 2,130 straight games.

Told manager Bob Melvin said might give him today off, Reynolds replied:

“I’m going to try to talk him out of it.”