The Arizona Diamondbacks pulled back to within a half-game of the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants with their 5-1 win over the struggling Florida Marlins on Sunday afternoon.
Starting pitcher Daniel Hudson went six innings allowing only one earned run, and relievers David Hernandez and Aaron Heilman kept things locked down in the later innings to keep the offensively struggling Marlins out of contention.
The D-backs took an early 4-0 lead in the third inning, behind a two-run double from Stephen Drew in the top of the first, and, in the third inning, a solo home run from Ryan Roberts and a sacrifice fly from Xavier Nady that scored Stephen Drew. Gerardo Parra drove in Melvin Mora in the top of the ninth to put the game to bed.
The loss was Florida's tenth in their last 11 games and they are now at .500 for the first time since they were 5-5. The Marlins stranded 13 runners, despite getting at least one hit in every inning.
Arizona has now won three of four since breaking a three-game losing streak, and has won 21 out of their last 29 -- the start of their hot streak after being swept by the Giants.
The two teams close out the four-game series on Monday evening, with the D-backs looking to once against secure the division lead, providing the Giants lose to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday evening.