Thursday, June 06, 2002
Diamondbacks 5, Astros 4
The Associated Press
PHOENIX — Luis Gonzalez picked a great time to finally get a hit against the Houston Astros. Gonzalez singled home Erubiel Durazo in the 13th inning Wednesday night to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 5-4 victory over the Astros.
Arizona's Randy Johnson, seeking his 10th win of the season, struck out 11 in eight innings but left with his second no-decision in his last three starts.
Johnson, who threw a season-high 137 pitches, allowed three runs on six hits and didn't walk a batter. He reached double-digit strikeouts for the fifth time this season and the 176th time of his career, second only to Nolan Ryan's 215.
“R.J. pitched an outstanding game,” Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. “It seems like it was about two days ago.”
Brian Anderson (1-5) threw a scoreless 13th inning for the victory in a game that lasted 4 hours, 45 minutes.
By the time it finally ended shortly before midnight local time, both teams had used every position player, Arizona had gone with six pitchers and Houston with seven.
“A long game, a lot of pitchers, a lot of players, a lot of changes,” Houston manager Jimy Williams said.
Anderson is the fifth starter in Arizona's rotation, but isn't scheduled to pitch again until next Tuesday against the Yankees in New York.
“It comes in a strange way,” he said of his first victory this season. “It was a long game. We had a lot of opportunities. They seemed to make big pitches when they needed to. It was one of those games you feel might never end.”
Jim Mann (0-1) walked Durazo to start the 13th. Durazo went to second on Rod Barajas' sacrifice bunt, then Mann walked Steve Finley. Gonzalez's hit was his first of the series in six at-bats.
“We left a lot of runners on, but the bottom line is we got a victory,” Gonzalez said. “B.A. got his first win, and we got a victory. That's all that counts on our ballclub. That's all we care about.”
Houston took a 4-3 lead in the 11th when Craig Biggio, 2-for-15 in the series, doubled home Orlando Merced. With one out, Julio Lugo doubled as right fielder Quinton McCracken misjudged the ball. Merced replaced Lugo, who strained his right groin while holding back on a called strike, as a pinch-runner.
“It was going to be a tough game for anybody to lose,” Biggio said.
The Diamondbacks stranded 19 runners. They loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth and one out in the 10th and failed to score. Finally in the 11th, they loaded the bases with one out against Nelson Cruz and scored on Tony Womack's sacrifice fly.
Durazo and the light-hitting Barajas singled to start the 11th. Cruz intentionally walked Gonzalez with one out to load the bases for Womack.
Jose Guillen and Finley hit consecutive home runs for Arizona to tie it at 3 in the fourth, and neither team scored again until the 11th.
In the ninth, McCracken singled off Billy Wagner. He had McCracken picked off, but the pitcher's throw to second in a rundown hit the runner's back and he was safe.
Wagner walked Junior Spivey intentionally, then walked Durazo to load the bases. McCracken tried to score on Barajas' short fly to right field, but was out easily on Richard Hidalgo's throw. Finley struck out to send the game into extra innings.
Hidalgo, batting .560 (14-for-25) through the six games Houston has played on its nine-game road trip, hit his 12th home run, a solo shot, to tie it at 1 in the second. He also singled, the fifth time he has had two hits in the six games.
Houston took a 3-1 lead with two runs in third. Brian Hunter doubled in a run, stole third and scored on a groundout. Hunter later left the game after jamming his right shoulder sliding into second.
Notes: Merced, an outfielder-first baseman, was pressed into duty at third base for the first time this season when Lugo was hurt and Keith Ginter moved from third to shortstop. ... Johnson needs seven strikeouts to catch Gaylord Perry for seventh on the career list. ... Gonzalez entered as a pinch-hitter in the seventh to keep his consecutive games played streak going at 386, the longest of any active player. ... Finley has 11 home runs, tied with Gonzalez for most on the team. ... Arizona is 5-1 in extra-inning games. Houston is 1-4.
Reds Stories
McElroy needs to score at draft camp
Huggins lunches with Nuggets GM
Golf Course Spotlight: Otter Creek
Lakers 99, Nets 94
O'Neal proves mountainous obstacle
Nets' slow start costly
Carolina's Irbe stands up to Stanley Cup pressure
Next for U.S. team: South Korea
U.S. - Portugal photo gallery
Sollmann sets NCAA baseball records
OSU's Sylvester breaks hand
UK search for AD hits full speed
Longest day for War Emblem
Coming up this week
DAUGHERTY: Madeira baseball star overcomes tragic crash
Madeira wakes up to possibilities
Sycamore, Hamilton hope for state softball showdown
Ex-Red Bair helping Milford
Ohio Softball Tourney Schedule
Ohio Baseball Tourney Schedule
Ohio Track Championships Schedule
Norwood hires Highlands coach
CovCath resumes with 3-0 lead
N.Ky. football all-star game tonight
• Return to Reds front page...
Diamondbacks 5, Astros 4 
