Diamondbacks sweep last place Astros

The Arizona Diamondbacks mounted two comebacks to eventually defeat the Houston Astros 8-2, and sweep their three game series at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks offense has been running on all cylinders recently, scoring 33 runs in the series against the Astros, and a total of 46 runs over the last five games.

The Astros took an early 1-0 lead when left fielder Justin Maxwell drilled a deep home run to center field with one out in the second inning. The Diamondbacks came right back in the bottom of the second when Jason Kubel, who hit three home runs the night before, hit a solo homer off the right field foul pole, for his 21^st of the season, tying the score 1-1.

The Astros regained the lead when Scott Moore and Chris Johnson hit back-to-back doubles leading off the top of the sixth inning. When batter Justin Maxwell missed on a squeeze attempt, Chris Johnson was picked off attempting to steal home, helping the Diamondbacks, and Josh Collmenter, end the inning without giving up any additional runs.

Trailing 2-1, the Diamondbacks offense caught fire in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Stephen Drew began the rally with a soft line drive single to right field. That was followed by two more singles by Aaron Hill and Jason Kubel, with his third hit of the game, to load the bases. Miguel Montero reached first on a fielder's choice throwing error by Astros shortstop Marwin Gonzalez, scoring two. Chris Young followed by hitting a three-run homer over the left centerfield wall to score Jason Kubel and Miguel Montero, and the rout was on. It wasn't until two hits later that the Astros finally pulled starter Jordan Lyles, who gave up ten hits and five earned runs on the day. With Wesley Wright replacing Jordan Lyles, Gerardo Parra hit a ground ball single to left, scoring Ryan Wheeler and Ryan Roberts. By the time the inning was over, the Diamondbacks sent ten batters to the plate, scored seven runs, and had an 8-2 lead heading into the seventh inning.

Mike Zagurski replaced Josh Collmenter to start the seventh inning. Collmenter pitched six complete innings, giving up six hits, two runs, one walk, and striking out four batters. Between Zagurski, Brad Bergesen, and J.J. Putz, the Diamondbacks relievers shut down the Astros in the last three innings for the win.

The Diamondbacks have now won their last six home games. They will remain at home to face the Colorado Rockies in a three game series, followed by a four game home series against the New York Mets.

Brad Bergesen Reports To D-backs, Bryan Shaw Optioned To Triple-A

The Arizona Diamondbacks have announced right-handed reliever Brad Bergesen reported to the club on Sunday. Bergesen, 26, spent the first few months of the season with the Baltimore Orioles before being claimed by Arizona on July 20. To make room for their new reliever, the D-backs optioned Bryan Show back to Triple-A Reno.

He had been called up by the Orioles on July 17 from Triple-A Norfolk, where he was 4-3 with a save and 4.03 ERA (36 ER in 80.1 IP) in 22 games (10 starts). In 10 starts, he was 2-3 with a 4.64 ERA (27 ER in 52.1 IP). In 12 relief appearances, he was 2-0 with a save and 2.89 ERA (9 ER in 28.0 IP). In his last 10 relief appearances since June 9, he held opponents scoreless in 6 games for a 2.35 ERA (6 ER in 23.0 IP). Overall, he held righties to a .258 batting average (41-for-159) with 10 walks and 21 strikeouts.

Look for Bergesen to have a role in middle relief with Arizona.

For more on the D-backs, check out AZ Snake Pit.

How Good A Signing Was Jason Kubel For The Arizona Diamondbacks?

Kubel Strikes For Three Home Runs In Another Diamondbacks Romp Over Astros (WIth Video)

Nothing like the Houston Astros to make an inconsistent team feel consistent for at least a little while. The Arizona Diamondbacks must be thrilled to be back home, where their bats have a little more jump and the runs come in bunches.

The Diamondbacks, led by outfielder Jason Kubel's three home runs and six RBIs, pounded the Astros 12-3 before 35,665 fans who got out of the dust storm that blew through Phoenix Saturday. Kubel's feat was the ninth time in D-backs history that an Arizona player hit three home runs in a game, and he became the seventh different player to do so.

Kubel, with homers in the first (two-run shot), fourth (three-run) and sixth (solo), fell one RBI short of his single-game career high of seven. Even though he admitted trying for a fourth homer in his final at-bat of the night (he said he got carried away), he raised his season home run total to 20 and his RBI total to 70, both tops on the club.

After his third home run, Kubel acknowledged the cheering crowd with a curtain call. He got a standing ovation leading off the bottom of the eighth inning at bat.

"He's feeling pretty good," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said of Kubel. "He's had a great year so far. He loves the fastball, is seeing it good. He's got a very short stroke the way he sets up and gets the barrel (of the bat) through the ball."

Here's Kubel on his big night:

The Diamondbacks (46-48) scored five runs in the fourth inning. Aaron Hill and Willie Bloomquist also drove in runs in the inning. Bloomquist had three hits and drove in three runs for the game, raising his batting average to .304.

All-Star Wade Miley started the game and handcuffed the Astros (34-61) on one run on four hits in seven innings. Miley (11-5) struck out nine, giving way to Takashi Saito for his 2012 debut in the eighth.

Saito pitched an inning and allowed an unearned run, becoming the first player of Japanese descent to appear in a game for the Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks failed to gain ground on the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants, but have scored 25 runs the past two days against the Astros.

Henry Blanco and Chris Young added run-scoring hits in the eighth inning as the D-backs poured it on until the end.

Third base umpire Kerwin Danley left the game early to attend to a personal matter, it was announced. The umpiring crew finished with three umps, the second-base guy (Doug Eddings) moving to third in place of Danley.

Saito Ready To Go For Diamondbacks

It wasn't exactly a long-awaited arrival for Diamondbacks fans, but the hometown nine might have gotten a boost to its bullpen with the activation of one-time All-Star Takashi Saito from the 15-day disabled list Saturday.

When Saito, 42, arrived in the U.S. major leagues in 2006, he made an immediate impact as the Los Angeles Dodgers' closer that year, saving 24 games with a 2.07 ERA. The following year, he was named an NL All-Star, but has since played for five different teams since 2008.

This year, it's the Diamondbacks for Saito, and calf and shoulder injuries have cost him the entire season up to this point. But he told manager Kirk Gibson he's ready to contribute now, and the Diamondbacks' taxed bullpen could use a veteran presence who knows how to get guys out.

After three different rehab stints with three of the D-backs' minor-league clubs, Saito has been added to the roster and Jonathan Albaladejo, called up just three days ago, is headed back to AAA Reno.

"He's had plenty of rehab work," Gibson said. "He's had some setbacks, but he's confident and feels ready to go. Said he's ready for better competition, and so I said 'Well, there's pretty good competition here.'"

Gibson said Saito told him he is 100 percent healthy. Initially, Gibson said, Saito will be likely used as a sixth- or seventh-inning reliever. If someone in the pen is unavailable, Saito could be used later in games.

"Every year he's ever pitched, he's had great results," Gibson said. "We're counting on that and when he tells us he's ready to pitch, that he'll understand how to navigate through a lineup."

Don't expect Saito to work more than an inning at a time, and perhaps not on back-to-back days at least for starters. But the guy has credentials. He's never had an ERA above 2.83 in six previous seasons.

Saito, who comes from one of the hardest-hit areas by the devastating tsunami in Japan in March 2011, Miyagi prefecture, will be the first-ever player of Japanese descent to pitch for the D-backs once he appears in a game.

For Reliever Bryan Shaw, Season Has Been A Statistical Roller Coaster Ride

Ryan Wheeler Has A Day Of Firsts, His Debut A Perfect Example Of Baseball

Third baseman Ryan Wheeler got a surprise on Thursday from his minor league manager in Reno, Brett Butler. He was told that he was headed to the big leagues to join the Arizona Diamondbacks. Friday was a day of firsts for him.

It was his first day in the majors, and then he found out that he would make his first start, batting eighth.

His debut had ups and downs. In the top of the first inning, Matt Downs bunted a ball that Wheeler fielded but was unable to hold onto and make a throw. It originally was ruled an error, but that ruling was changed, as he would not have been able to throw out Downs had he been able to make the throw.

In the field, he made a couple of pretty good plays, but later committed his first error.

He struck out his first two at-bats -- another first. But he was all smiles in the seventh inning. He got his first major league hit, a single to center field.

He also ended the inning, getting thrown out at the plate for the first time, which ended the inning.

Despite the ups and downs that the fans perceived, he saw the whole thing as a wonderful experience.

"It was awesome," he said after the game, smiling the entire time. "I didn't know what to expect going out there."

His family was even there to witness the game, which he said was "real special."

In all the excitement of the game and experience, he did forget about the ball of his hit. "I didn't even get the ball," he said, realizing he had forgotten about it. "I'm not used to getting a hit. I don't know what happened to the ball. I gotta find it."

One would assume he wasn't used to getting a hit in the majors. He was hitting .351 in Reno.

"If you're able to control your heart rate and your emotions, the game is very similar," said Wheeler, referring to the difference of being in the majors for the first time. "The key is controlling how you feel, and that's the tough part."

Now that he got those "monkeys" off his back, now he can focus on letting the game get back to what he is used to.

Hopefully, that hit will be the first of many this season and just one of thousands for his career.

Get more Diamondbacks coverage over at AZ Snakepit.

For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and "Like" us on Facebook.

Justin Upton's Homer Propels D-backs To 13-8 Rout Over Houston Astros

The Arizona Diamondbacks returned home after a tough road trip, in which they got swept by the Cubs, split with the Reds, but blew a 6-0 lead in their final game to lose 7-6. With the Houston Astros coming to town with a terrible record, the D-backs needed to get things going to at least attempt to make some sort of run.

That's what they got. Trevor Cahill was shaky early, but a home run and three RBI by Justin Upton paced the Diamondbacks to a 13-8 win over Houston.

Cahill gave up a pair of runs in the first inning to allow Houston a lead. He allowed consecutive doubles by Jordan Schafer and Marwin Gonzalez to score the first run. Matt Downs bunted for a hit and then J.D. Martinez grounded into a double play, which allowed Gonzalez to score.

Arizona answered back in the bottom of the inning when Stephen Drew doubled in Gerardo Parra, who walked to leadoff the inning and took second on a wild pitch.

Houston kept getting baserunners, but Cahill kept it under control until the sixth. Miguel Montero also chipped in, throwing a pair of runners out trying to steal.

But Arizona took the lead in the third and turned the game into a rout in the fifth. In the third, Jason Kubel got an RBI groundout and Justin Upton homered to make it 4-2 Arizona.

In the fifth, they put up five more runs. Parra doubled and then Houston starter Bud Norris walked three straight batters (Aaron Hill, Jason Kubel and Justin Upton), bringing in one run. Miguel Montero then singled to drive in Hill and Kubel.

After Enerio Del Rosario came in to relieve Norris, Paul Goldschmidt promptly doubled home Upton. Trevor Cahill drove in the final run with a two-out base hit that scored Goldy, but Ryan Wheeler was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

In the sixth, Cahill got only one out. He walked Brian Bogusevic, who went to second on a wild pitch. he went to third on a ground out, then scored when Ryan Wheeler committed an error on a grounder by Brian Bixler. Carlos Corporan double to score Bixler and then Cahill's night was over. Craig Breslow came in relief, walked a batter, but struck the final two of the inning to keep the score 9-4.

Arizona added four more runs in the seventh to push the score to 13-4. Ryan Wheeler got his first major league hit and Ryan Roberts, Stephen Drew and Gerardo Parra all drove in runs.

Houston got a run off of Jonathan Albaladejo when Houston catcher Carlos Corporan hit his first career homerun, and then got three runs in the ninth on a three-run shot by Scott Moore off Bryan Shaw.

For Arizona, only Jason Kubel was hitless in the lineup, but he scored a run and drove in one. Parra, Drew and Montero each had two hits, while Hill had three, as the team pounded out 14 for the game.

Cahill. who allowed three earned runs in five innings and a third, picked up the win to even his record to 8-8. Norris allowed all nine runs in four and one-third innings and picked up the loss, falling to 5-8.

Get more Diamondbacks coverage over at AZ Snakepit.

For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and "Like" us on Facebook.

Diamondbacks Vs. Astros: Ryan Wheeler's Surprises, Gibby's Plan To Use Him, Starting Lineups

The Arizona Diamondbacks called up third baseman Ryan Wheeler from Triple-A Reno before the series opener at home against the Houston Astros. Wheeler had a pair of surprises two days in a row.

The first dealt with his promotion to the major leagues. He was called in to his manager's (Triple-A Reno manager Brett Butler) office after their game. Wheeler's first reaction was that he must have done something wrong during the game. He started thinking "if it was something that happened during the game" and about how he was going to explain.

After sweating it a bit, Wheeler got the good news. Butler told him, "No, no, no. Just kidding. Congratulations! You're going to the big leagues tomorrow."

So to Phoenix he arrived.

The second surprise happened when he ran into manager Kirk Gibson in the elevator. The conversation went like this, according to Wheeler.

Gibby: "Hey, how you feeling?"

Wheeler: "Good."

Gibby: "Are you ready to play tonight?"

Wheeler: "Of course!"

Gibby: "All right. you're in there."

Wheeler: "Oh! Ok, all right! Let's get it going then."

He makes his major league debut the day he arrives, batting eighth in the lineup and playing third base.

Gibby explained that he already had made the lineup and had already decided to start him.

How will he be used? He can play third base, first base and some left field. "I think he'll enter the rotation and try to put him in situations he can be successful at," said Gibson. "I'll still continue to play everybody."

Gibson compared to him to a younger Geoff Blum, whom he replaced on the roster, except that he has "a little more sock in his bat" and "uses more of the field" to hit.

My guess is that with a lack of production from third base, the team is giving him a look to see if he can do anything at this level, especially with the run production he had in the minors. He had 15 homers and led all the minors in 90 RBI.

He won't play everyday, but will probably get the majority of looks. In all likelihood, it may be a way to see where the organization stands in the present for third base help.

Here are tonight's starting lineups:

Astros:

1. Jordan Schafer, CF
2. Marwin Gonzalez, SS
3. Matt Downs, 1B
4. J.D. Martinez, LF
5. Brian Bogusevic, RF
6. Chris Johnson, 3B
7. Brian Bixler, 2B
8. Carlos Corporan, C
9. Bud Norris, P

Diamondbacks Release Geoff Blum, Select Ryan Wheeler From AAA-Reno

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced some roster moves on Friday, releasing infielder Geoff Blum and promoting infielder Ryan Wheeler from Triple-A Reno, according to D-backs' Executive Vice President & General Manager Kevin Towers.

Blum, 39, had struggled mightily of late, hitting .143 (4-for-28) in 17 games with the Diamondbacks this season. He also battled injuries that kept him from the lineup.

Wheeler, 24, on the other hand, has been lighting it up in Reno, and was a Pacific Coast League Mid-Season All-Star. He posted a .351 batting average, with 90 RBI on 127 hits and 207 total bases in 93 games. In that time, he posted 27 doubles, 4 triples, and 15 homers. He showcased his versatility by playing 49 games at third base, 32 games at first base, 10 games in left field and 4 games as the designated hitter. Wheeler will wear No. 21.

Get more Diamondbacks coverage over at AZ Snakepit.

For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and "Like" us on Facebook.

Arizona Diamondbacks Vs. Houston Astros: Series Preview, Pitching Probables And More

The Arizona Diamondbacks return home after posting a 2-5 record on their road trip to take on the lowly Astros.