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Allen comes up with 10th-inning heroics

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By Sandy Burgin / Special to MLB.com

09/15/09 3:12 AM ET

SAN DIEGO -- Billy Buckner may have gotten a no-decision, but his solid six-plus innings of pitching along with some stalwart relief help paved the way for the D-backs' 4-2 victory over the Padres in 10 innings on Monday night at PETCO Park.

Consecutive singles by Gerardo Parra, Ryan Roberts and Brandon Allen off San Diego reliever Adam Russell (2-1) snapped a 2-2 tie in the 10th, and Alex Romero's bunt got an insurance run home.

Clay Zavada, who pitched a scoreless ninth, going through the heart of the Padres' order, striking out Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Headley after a leadoff walk, picked up the win to improve to 3-3.

Juan Guttierrez came on in the 10th to pick up his fourth save in five opportunities.

Both starters pitched well, but got no-decisions.

Buckner pitched six-plus innings for the D-backs, allowing two runs (one earned) on nine hits. He struck out a career-high eight batters.

Kevin Correia pitched the first seven innings for the Padres, allowing two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts.

"I definitely wanted to go out there and take them on in the seventh inning," said Buckner, who hasn't won a game since June 1. "It didn't go as planned, but [Scott] Schoeneweis and our relievers bailed us out."

The D-backs had jumped out to a 2-0 lead off Correia in the second inning. It was Buckner who drove in both runs with a bases-loaded single.

Miguel Montero walked leading off and Mark Reynolds followed with a single. Both runners moved up to second and third on an infield groundout by Roberts. Correia intentionally walked Allen to get to Buckner, who lined a single to right-center field.

"As a pitcher you don't expect to hit," said Buckner. "Any time you can, it's a bonus."

The Padres got runs off Buckner in the sixth and seventh.

Consecutive singles by Tony Gwynn, Adrian Gonzalez and Headley produced a run in the sixth and Headley's bases-loaded fielder's choice brought home Edgar Gonzalez with the tying run in the seventh. Gonzalez had reached on an infield single and went to second when Buckner threw wide to first on Evereth Cabrera's sacrifice bunt.

"I took that bunt too easily," said Buckner. "I just threw it over there and lobbed it, and it was a poor throw."

After that, Schoeneweis came in and struck out Gwynn, who was also trying to bunt. He then hit Adrian Gonzalez, loading the bases.

Here, Esmerling Vasquez came on and got Headley to hit a grounder, but the D-backs just missed doubling up Headley at first with the tying run coming home. Vasquez then struck out pinch-hitter Oscar Salazar to end the inning.

D-backs manager A.J. Hinch had praise for all his hurlers, particularly Buckner.

"I thought Buckner threw very well," said Hinch, including that managing some innings were difficult. "They didn't all come easy. I thought he was the exception. When he got into trouble, he limited the damage to single runs.

"Obviously it was a shame the way his outing ended for him, not fielding the bunt, but he kept us in a position to hang in there. Both teams left a ton of runners on base [San Diego 11, Arizona 13]. You can attribute that to good pitching, you can attribute it to poor hitting. But this was Buckner's third start in a row in which he was very good.

"Our relievers came through and Clay reached back and got a little extra in going through the heart of that order. In games like this, in a season like we're having and not being able to find a way to win, it's great to keep things in check."

As for Allen's big hit, Hinch noted, "The growing pains of putting up quality plate appearances when it matters most. And in that case, a tough righty [Russell] whom he knows from the White Sox organization that he came up with. To be able to be patient to get in that pitchers' count. Obviously he's growing, learning -- it's what this month is for him."

Sandy Burgin is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.