Diamondbacks Edge Phillies on Close Play

The game of inches worked in the favor of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday at Philadelphia.

Steve Finley streaked home to score the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning on a disputed play that led to Philadelphia Manager Larry Bowa’s ejection, and the Diamondbacks beat the Phillies, 4-3, Saturday.

“That’s baseball, it’s a game of inches,” Arizona third baseman Matt Williams said. “This game could have gone either way a couple of times if the close plays went the other way.”

The Phillies put a runner on third with one out in the ninth, but couldn’t score against Byung-Hyun Kim.

The National League West-leading Diamondbacks increased their lead to 2 1/2 games over San Francisco.

Philadelphia, which trails Atlanta by one game in the East, has lost seven of nine.

With the score tied, 1-1, Arizona loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Greg Colbrunn hit a slow chopper and third baseman Tomas Perez charged the ball, barehanded it and made a strong throw home.

Plate umpire Bill Miller ruled Finley had beaten the throw. Bowa argued the call and, after the inning was over, was ejected by Miller.

Junior Spivey added an RBI groundout in the seventh for a 3-1 lead.

Williams, who missed a homer in the first inning when it hit the top of the fence, hit a solo home run into the upper deck in left field off Dennis Cook in the eighth. Williams went 2 for 4.

The Phillies closed to 4-3 in the eighth when Bobby Abreu hit a two-run double off Troy Brohawn.

San Diego 7, Florida 1--Bubba Trammell hit a grand slam and Junior Herndon gave up one run in five-plus innings as San Diego snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory at Miami.

Herndon (2-2), making his fifth career start, gave up one run and six hits, struck out one and walked three in 5 1/3 innings. Four relievers combined to shut the Marlins down the rest of the way.

Pittsburgh 8, Houston 2--Aramis Ramirez hit a grand slam in a six-run first inning and Todd Ritchie pitched 8 1/3 innings for the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

The Astros, who had won seven of eight and five in a row over the Pirates, saw their National League Central lead over Chicago cut to three games.

Ritchie (10-11) won his 10th in 13 decisions since starting 0-8. He gave up nine hits.

Cincinnati 4, Montreal 2--Chris Reitsma came within one out of his first career shutout, and Adam Dunn hit a 420-foot homer to lead the Reds at Montreal. Reitsma, who gave up five hits in 8 2/3 innings, allowed a two-run homer to Orlando Cabrera with two outs in the ninth.

Milwaukee 5, Colorado 4--Lou Collier’s two-run, pinch-hit home run in the seventh lifted the Brewers at Milwaukee. Collier’s home run--his first of the year--was the third pinch-hit homer by the Brewers this season.