A.J. Pollock RBI single in ninth lifts D-backs over Astros, 4-3
PHOENIX — A.J. Pollock singled off the glove of third baseman Alex Bregman with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Houston Astros 4-3 on Friday night to end their longest skid of the season at three.
Pollock delivered off reliever Brad Peacock on the first pitch after Chris Devenski (1-1) had walked the previous two hitters to load the bases. Brad Boxberger (1-2) got the win in relief.
Astros reliever Collin McHugh became the first pitcher to enter a regularseason game in the Diamondbacks’ shiny new bullpen cart. McHugh replaced starter Charlie Morton
Arizona: 22-11 overall Houston: 21-14 overall
in the sixth inning.
Brian McCann doubled with two outs in the eighth inning off Yoshihisa Hirano to pull Houston within 3-2, and then pinch-hitter Derek Fisher scored McCann with a double to tie it.
In a dramatic ninth, the Diamondbacks had Deven Marrero on second base with one out when David Peralta, who homered ear- lier in the game, was called out on a check-swing appeal. Reliever Archie Bradley was ejected for arguing with third base umpire Dan Iassogna from the dugout.
Pollock’s hit went off the glove of third baseman Alex Bregman and into shallow left field to score Marrero.
The Diamondbacks’ Zack Greinke held the World Series champions to a run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Morton worked five innings and only allowed three hits, but gave up three runs and walked four. Morton uncharacteristically walked the first three batters he faced and four total in the first but only gave up one run.
Pollock’s sacrifice fly with the bases loaded gave Arizona a 1-0 lead, but the Diamondbacks couldn’t add on despite loading the bases again in the inning. Morton came into the game with 13 walks this season.
With two outs in the second inning, Peralta ripped a hanging curveball into the seats in right field, his sixth home run of the season.
The Astros threatened in the third against Greinke, but with one and two on, Pollock took extra bases away from Carlos Correa when he leaped and stretched to catch a long fly ball to center field. Greinke then wiggled out of a twoout, bases-loaded jam.
George Springer hit the first pitch of the fifth inning over the wall in left-center for his seventh home run of the season, making it 2-1.
Greinke led off the bottom of the inning with a double and scored on Peralta’s single for a 3-1 Diamondbacks lead.
MAIDEN VOYAGE
The Diamondbacks have had the bullpen cart ready for use since opening day, but no reliever opted to take it over Arizona’s first 17 home games.
McHugh changed that by hitching a ride around the warning track to begin the sixth inning. He was dropped off just outside Houston’s dugout, then walked the rest of the way to the rubber. All that saved energy proved useful — McHugh pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings before handing off to Joe Smith, who journeyed to the mound on foot.
Arizona’s cart is the first known motorized vehicle used in the majors since 1995, when the Milwaukee Brewers shuttled pitchers in a motorcycle with a sidecar.
‘SHIP’ COMES IN
The Diamondbacks recalled right-hander Braden Shipley from Triple-A Reno before Saturday’s game and optioned Friday’s starter, Kris Medlen, to Reno. Shipley will serve as a long reliever but will be considered to start a game next week in what was Medlen’s spot.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: 3B Jake Lamb (shoulder) could throw again as soon as Sunday. RHP Shelby Miller (recover from elbow surgery) will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday and after that, a game in extended spring training, Lovullo said.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (4-0, 1.13 earned run average) faces Arizona Sunday afternoon on an 11game regular-season winning streak, the longest active win streak in the majors.
Diamondbacks: RHP Matt Koch (1-0, 2.37 ERA) makes his fourth start of the season when he faces the Astros.