Chris Johnson hit his third home run in six games as an Arizona Diamondback, but the Diamondbacks lost an early 3-0 lead and two players to injury in a frustrating 5-4 loss to the downtrodden Philadelphia Phillies Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
Johnson homered but grounded into two double plays. Backup catcher Henry Blanco was lost to an apparent thumb injury, replaced by Miguel Montero in the eighth inning, and after the same play involving Blanco, D-backs pitcher David Hernandez and Phillies batter Domonic Brown, Hernandez had to leave the game with a leg injury when he was struck by Brown's hit up the middle.
Blanco, manager Kirk Gibson said on Fox Sports Arizona after the game, might have a torn ligament. If that's the case, the disabled list could be in his future.
Takashi Saito replaced Hernandez and finished the inning, but Josh Collmenter ran into trouble in the bottom of the ninth. The Phillies loaded the bases on a Juan Pierre single, a sacrifice, a base hit by pinch-hitter Laynce Nix that outfielder Justin Upton had in his glove for a sliding catch before it popped out and an intentional walk to Chase Utley.
Ryan Howard roped a 2-1 pitch to right field for the game-winning walk-off single to drive in Pierre.
The Diamondbacks (55-53) led 4-3 with their best setup man, Hernandez, on the mound. Hernandez got the first two batters out, then John Mayberry singled and took second on a wild pitch with Brown at the plate. Brown hit the ball sharply off Hernandez, who gathered himself and fielded the ball but couldn't make a good throw to first base to get Brown. Mayberry scored on the play to tie it at 4.
Johnson and Stephen Drew hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning off Cliff Lee, who lasted eight innings but didn't figure in the decision. It was Drew's first of the season.
Paul Goldschmidt hit his 16th home run of the season in the sixth inning, giving Arizona a 4-3 lead.