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Upton flirts with history, but D-backs fall

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By Tim Powers / Special to MLB.com

09/16/09 9:19 PM ET

SAN DIEGO -- The D-backs were one out away from completing a three-game sweep of the Padres and basking in the glow of Justin Upton's first career five-hit game, but San Diego's All-Star first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez, hit a pinch-hit two-run homer that spoiled everything.

Gonzalez's blow against Esmerling Vasquez in the ninth ruined the rookie's first Major League save opportunity and sent the game to extra innings, where Arizona eventually fell, 6-5, in the series finale on Wednesday.

Yusmeiro Petit (3-10) came on in the 10th and allowed a leadoff single to Luis Durango, who made his first big league start and collected three hits despite never hitting the ball out of the infield. Petit admitted that he hesitated to cover first base on the ground ball that first baseman Brandon Allen fielded, allowing Durango to leg out the base hit.

Durango, who was called up from Double-A on Monday, continued to burn the D-backs with his speed as he stole second on a slider that Petit threw in the dirt, giving catcher Miguel Montero no chance to throw Durango out. Another rookie speedster, San Diego's Everth Cabrera, followed with a single that scored Durango and snapped a five-game winning streak for Arizona over San Diego.

"Their bunt singles, their activity on the bases, was tough to defend," D-backs manager A.J. Hinch said. "We didn't really have an answer for it. They caused havoc. When you get guys with speed, they put a lot of pressure on the defense. They put a lot of pressure on us, and we didn't really respond often enough."

Montero echoed Hinch's sentiment that the defense was unable to adjust to Durango's speed in particular.

"We've need to defend [Durango] better," Montero said. "We need to play a little bit in, because all he is going to do is bunt. We know he's not going to hit. He's a Speedy-Gonzalez-type, bunt and run. What can I say? We've just got to play him a little different. You've got to know he's going to put the ball on the ground, and you've got to cover the base a little bit sooner or whatever. Whatever it takes to get the guy out."

That 10th-inning play would have never occurred had Arizona not let Adrian Gonzalez, who had most of the day off but pinch-hit for his brother Edgar in the pivotal spot, came to the plate as the tying run.

"You've got to find a way to close the game out, and that includes keeping the ball in the ballpark," Hinch said. "The one play that could impact the game is a home run. It changed the momentum of the game, obviously, but it also took the wind out of our sails. We had two outs, a runner on first, and a two-run lead, and we're in here talking about a loss."

According to Montero, the first at-bat of the inning, when Tony Gwynn drew a walk against Petit, was just as crucial.

"The key is not walking the leadoff guy," Montero said. "You've got to be able to go and get the first out, because you know Adrian was on the bench, and sooner or later, you're going to face him."

Upton had two chances to hit for the cycle after collecting a double, single, and triple in his first three at-bats. In both the seventh and ninth innings, the 22-year-old All-Star singled each time, giving him five hits for the first time in his three-year career.

"I had a couple of shots at it, but if you keep trying to hit a home run, you're probably not going to do it," Upton said. "I was trying not to and kind of let it come, but obviously, I thought about it. It just didn't happen."

Heath Bell (6-4) held the D-backs scoreless in the 10th to pick up the victory for the Padres and avert a three-game sweep by Arizona.

D-backs starter Doug Davis allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings and was in line for the victory before the blown save. The left-hander had lost his previous two starts, and finished the day with five strikeouts and five walks.

"I felt good," Davis said. "I was maybe a little erratic at times and trying to make too good of a pitch. Other than that, I felt pretty good out there. Obviously, walks are no excuse, and that's what ended up killing me out there."

Davis took his team's tough-luck loss in stride and credited Gonzalez on the key at-bat.

"It's baseball, and that's the way it happens," Davis said. "Adrian is a good hitter, but it was a good pitch, too. He just happened to catch it, and kudos to him."

Mark Reynolds struck out four times in the contest, giving him 200 strikeouts on the season. Having set the single-season strikeout high with 204 last year, Reynolds is the only player to have 200 or more punchouts in a season.

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