The Arizona Diamondbacks lost all three of their recent home series, but are off to a great start on the road. Joe Saunders threw a complete game beauty in the 5-0 win over the Miami Marlins to kick off a 10-game road trip through Florida, Washington DC, and New York.
It was a fairly flawless game for the Snakes who got to Carlos Zambrano in the first inning when they made the hot-tempered hurler pay for beaning Justin Upton in the arm. With two outs, Jason Kubel got his first of four hits on the night (tying a career-high) and Miguel Montero drove him in with a single.
Montero finished the game with three RBI and two hits after he bookended his first inning hit with a double in the ninth that plated Gerardo Parra and Kubel who was intentionally walked to get to Montero.
The D-backs had a chance to blow the game apart in the second, but the only run scored after a bases-loaded, no-out situation came off a sac fly by Saunders.
Those stranded runners didn't matter though, with Saunders pitching like an Ace on the mound.
He went the distance, throwing a gem with just three hits and two walks allowed to go along with five strikeouts. With this outing, Saunders season ERA is now just 0.90 with a WHIP of 0.87. He started slow last season, but is carrying the staff on his back his April.
Saturday's pitching match up features Ian Kennedy (3-0, 3.86) vs. Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 2.79) with the game starting at 4:10 p.m. local time.
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