Other Guys Pitch In for Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks are back in first place and they didn’t need Curt Schilling or Randy Johnson to get there.

Miguel Batista pitched five strong innings at Atlanta and the bullpen was perfect the rest of the way, leading the Diamondbacks to a 3-1 victory Saturday over the slumping Braves.

Arizona, leading the National League West by a half-game over the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants, broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth when two runs scored on an infield grounder.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten any breaks,” Manager Bob Brenly said. “You can’t say enough about the bullpen.”

Batista (7-7) gave up five hits and an unearned run. Bobby Witt, Troy Brohawn, Bret Prinz and Byung-Hyun Kim combined for four perfect innings, with Kim earning his 10th save.

Arizona won for the first time since July 25 in a game started by someone other than Schilling (17-5) or Johnson (15-5).

With two out and runners at second and third in the sixth, Tony Womack grounded to first baseman Ken Caminiti, who flipped the ball to Atlanta pitcher Jason Marquis covering.

Marquis stabbed at the bag with his right foot, appearing unable to find it until Womack arrived.

First-base umpire Tim Welke called safe, allowing Steve Finley to score. Marquis held up his glove and began to argue, failing to notice Damian Miller coming in to score from second until it was too late.

The Braves lost their fourth in a row and dropped into a tie with Philadelphia for the NL East lead.

San Diego 6, Pittsburgh 2--Starting for the first time since July 29, Tony Gwynn hit his first home run in more than a year and the Padres won at Pittsburgh.

Florida 13, Houston 5--Preston Wilson, Mike Lowell and Kevin Millar each drove in three runs at Miami to power the Marlins to a season-high run total.

Cincinnati 7, Colorado 3--Dmitri Young singled home the go-ahead run and Adam Dunn added a two-run double, giving the Reds their first home victory against the Rockies this season.

Milwaukee 6, Montreal 0--Mac Suzuki pitched seven scoreless innings, and Luis Lopez hit a three-run double to ignite the Brewers’ five-run fourth at Montreal.