Diamondbacks Turn to Bullpen, Beat Cardinals

Erubiel Durazo hit a two-run double and the Arizona bullpen pitched four scoreless innings Wednesday night, giving the Diamondbacks a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Ray Lankford hit an run-scoring double in his return to the Cardinal lineup. He left the team after his 19-year-old brother was shot to death Saturday night.

Armando Reynoso (7-6) gave up three runs in five-plus innings. Arizona relievers, who have lost a team-record six consecutive decisions, protected the lead.

The Cardinals scored three times in the sixth to close to 4-3. After consecutive singles by Edgar Renteria, Jim Edmonds and Fernando Tatis produced one run, Lankford’s double chased Reynoso.

Russ Springer relieved and gave up an RBI groundout to Craig Paquette.

Greg Swindell pitched a perfect seventh and eighth. Matt Mantei pitched the ninth for his first save since July 6, and fifth overall.

The victory was only Arizona’s fourth in the last 10 games.

Garrett Stephenson (10-6), who threw a six-hit shutout against the Diamondbacks on May 29, gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings.

The Diamondbacks never trailed, taking a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Luis Gonzalez, and padding their lead with three runs in the fourth.

Matt Williams singled to lead off and Steve Finley and Durazo followed with doubles. After an out, Damian Miller got an infield single, and Durazo scored on the play on shortstop Renteria’s throwing error.