PHOENIX – The Arizona Diamondbacks have been waiting for a big hit all season.
They got two on Sunday.
Justin Upton belted a tying two-run homer in the ninth inning and Conor Jackson hit a bases-loaded single in the 12th as the Diamondbacks rallied for a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
“It took a while, (but) we got some big hits,” Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. “It was setting up to be the same type of game where we just couldn’t get big hits when we needed to, even though we did hit some balls hard. You just keep fighting.”
As the Diamondbacks streamed out of their dugout and mobbed Jackson, it looked as if they had clinched a division title. In reality, they had salvaged the finale of a three-game series on a sunny, 83-degree day.
They hope this dramatic victory will energize them after a disappointing 7-11 start – including 6-9 at home.
“Baseball’s just a vicious game,” Jackson said. “You go through cycles.”
Juan Gutierrez (1-1) pitched the 12th for the Diamondbacks.
The winning rally began when former Diamondbacks reliever Brandon Medders (0-1) walked leadoff man Miguel Montero. After a sacrifice bunt, Medders walked Felipe Lopez intentionally and Augie Ojeda unintentionally to load the bases.
San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy summoned Justin Miller, who gave up a line drive single to Jackson to deep left field.
Arizona entered the ninth down 4-1 and facing Wilson, who had three saves in his first three chances against the Diamondbacks. Wilson soon had his first blown save.
Chad Tracy bounced an 0-2 pitch down the right-field line for a leadoff double, and Mark Reynolds singled to make it 4-2.
Reynolds was erased on Eric Byrnes’ fielder’s choice grounder. That brought up Upton, who hit a 3-1 pitch into the left field bleachers to tie it 4-all.
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UP NEXT: Chicago Cubs (Lilly 2-1) at Arizona (Haren 1-3), 6:40 p.m. Monday. TV: FSNA. Radio: 1490 AM