Diamondbacks’ White Delivers

Devon White’s experience told him his slump wouldn’t last forever.

After taking a day off and going 0 for nine in the previous two games, White went four for six Sunday with a season-high four RBIs, including a three-run homer, as Arizona defeated the Oakland Athletics, 12-4.

“When you play this game long enough you’re going to have ups and downs,” White said. “You take whatever comes and try not to stay in a rut too long.”

White raised his average to .294 with the performance.

“Devo has been a good player for a long time,” said Arizona Manager Buck Showalter. “He can’t do the things he’s done without having some drive.”

David Dellucci and Yamil Benitez both homered and drove in three runs as the Diamondbacks snapped a four-game losing streak.

Brian Anderson (4-6) extended his winning streak to three consecutive games, giving up four runs and six hits in five-plus innings.

“That was the best stuff I’ve had all year by far,” Anderson said. “I was in complete control of that game.”

Oakland starter Tom Candiotti (4-7) left the game in the second inning with back spasms and was replaced by Jay Witasick.

Candiotti’s status is not certain.

Howe said.

“We’re hoping he’ll be able to make his next start, but that will be up in the air until we see how he comes along,” Athletics Manager Art Howe said.

Jason Giambi homered for the Athletics who had their winning streak end at three games.

Candiotti walked Matt Williams to lead off the second before Witasick came on and gave up a homer to Dellucci, giving the Diamondbacks a 2-0 lead.

Benitez hit his third homer with one out in the fourth. After Karim Garcia walked and a single by Kelly Stinnett, White hit his ninth homer over the right-field fence.

Benitez’s two-run single in the fifth put the Diamondbacks ahead, 8-0.

The Athletics cut the deficit in half in the fifth on Giambi’s solo homer, Rickey Henderson’s RBI double and Scott Spiezio’s two-run double.

In the sixth, White scored on Aaron Small’s wild pitch and he hit an RBI double in the eighth to make it 10-4. Williams and Dellucci each added run-scoring doubles in the eighth.

White has had four four-hit games this season, and 18 in his career.

“I feel like I’m hitting the ball as well as I ever have, but you can always do better,” White said.

The game was not without controversy. Athletics reliever Mike Fetters hit Benitez with a pitch in the eighth inning, and Arizona appeared to retaliate, or so some of the Athletics thought, in the bottom of the ninth when rookie Ben Grieve was hit by Russ Springer.

Howe wasn’t pleased.

“What did they think? Fetters came in and hit somebody intentionally?” Howe asked. “Give me a break.”