The Arizona Diamondbacks up and down season rolled along Saturday with a trip back to the top of the roller coaster. One day after blowing another game late, Daniel Hudson took the mound and put the team on his back to earn the 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres.
Hudson, in just his second start since returning from the DL, went eight full innings with just five hits, two runs and one walk allowed.
The offense wasn't great but it was good enough to plate four runs and give Hudson his second win of the season.
Paul Goldschmidt hit his fifth home run of the season to get the D-backs a run in the fifth. Gerardo Parra scored the go-ahead run in the seventh when he was balked home from third. Parra's RBI walk in the eighth add an insurance run.
It's all good. All except for the D-backs repeated failure to capitalize on good scoring situations this season. Instead of turning a bases loaded, no out situation into a big fourth inning, the Snakes were able to get just one run in. Aaron Hill popped up to short. Dan Hudson plated the run with a sac-fly and then Parra struck out.
Notes:
-- Justin Upton was just 3-20 in his last five games which may or probably is the reason he was given the day off. Considering the D-backs just had a day off on Thursday, the slump seems like a likely reason. We keep waiting for J-Up to get his ship in order and get back to hitting like an MVP candidate. So far...days off.
-- Hudson hit for himself with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh and then Gibby let him continue in the eighth after he walked the lead-off man. The result was a ground out, a fly out and a strike out to end the inning.
-- Sunday's series finale features Trevor Cahill vs Eric Stults. The game won't be televised.
-- J.J. Putz got the save (his 12th), but made things a little too interesting for himself, allowing the go-ahead runner to come to the plate before getting it done.
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