Batista Gives Diamondbacks Just a Pinch

Matt Williams’ return to the Arizona lineup lasted only a few innings, but Tony Batista made up for it.

Batista, batting for the injured Williams, hit the first pinch-hit homer in Arizona history as the Diamondbacks defeat the Cubs, 6-5, Monday night at Chicago.

“We felt like Tony would hit a home run there,” Arizona Manager Buck Showalter said, tongue firmly in cheek.

Williams was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game after being sidelined 16 games because of a stress fracture in his left foot. But the third baseman was hit in the right hand by a pitch in the third inning, and was replaced by Batista in the fifth.

“I just couldn’t roll the bat over,” said Williams, explaining why he had to leave the game. “I brought my hands forward and I couldn’t get my hand out of the way. It’s a relief [that’s it not broken].”

Williams said he “passed the foot test” when he had to run in the first inning.

“Now, I’ll deal with the hand,” said Williams, who is listed as day-to-day because of a bruised hand.

Batista’s two-run homer made it 5-0. Before the hit, he was two for 20 as a pinch-hitter. The homer came in the 161st pinch-hit at-bat for the Diamondbacks.

Amaury Telemaco (3-4) won for the first time in his third start against his former team. He gave up one run and nine hits in six innings.

Sammy Sosa, who has 42 home runs, had three singles for Chicago.

Milwaukee 6, St. Louis 5--Steve Woodard won his career-high sixth consecutive decision and the Brewers kept Mark McGwire in the ballpark at Milwaukee.

Since hitting his 45th home run against the Brewers at Busch Stadium last Tuesday, McGwire has gone 22 at-bats without homering. He went one for four with a double.

Florida 11, Houston 3--Struggling rookie Andy Larkin pitched 6 2/3 strong innings and Gregg Zaun matched a career high with four RBIs to help the Marlins win at Miami.

Montreal 6, San Diego 1--Dustin Hermanson took a shutout into the ninth and Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run, first-inning homer to lead the Expos at Montreal.

Colorado 7, Pittsburgh 2--Bobby Jones pitched eight strong innings and hit a two RBI singles at Pittsburgh.

Jeff Reed went four for four and drove in two runs and newly acquired Darryl Hamilton also had two RBIs. The Rockies won for only the third time in 14 road games.

San Francisco 6, Philadelphia 1--Danny Darwin won for the first time in nine starts since July 8 and Barry Bonds drove in two runs as the Giants completed a four-game sweep of the Phillies at Philadelphia.