Durazo’s Two Homers Save Arizona

Erubiel Durazo homered twice, including a two-out drive in the ninth inning that led the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Florida Marlins, 2-1, Friday night at Phoenix.

Durazo, who had homered in the fourth off Brad Penny, connected in the ninth against Braden Looper (0-4), a ball that hit against a wall behind the swimming pool in right center.

It was the oft-injured slugger’s 13th homer in 131 at-bats this season and gave the World Series champions their 14th victory in 18 games.

Miguel Batista gave up two hits in eight innings but Derrek Lee hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth off Byung-Hyun Kim (6-2), who blew a save for the fifth time in 33 chances.

Kim hit Andy Fox with a pitch and walked Mike Lowell. Kevin Millar then flied out to left as Luis Gonzalez threw to third to catch Fox trying to advance.

Lowell took second on the throw and scored on Lee’s sinking liner to right field. David Dellucci, whose diving catch ended a Marlin threat in the eighth, dived again, but the ball popped out of his glove.

Brad Penny struck out a season-high 10, giving up four hits and walking one.

After Durazo’s first homer, Penny retired 11 of the next 12 batters before he was lifted for pinch-hitter Tim Raines in the eighth. Batista walked Raines with two outs, and Dellucci charged in to catch the liner by Luis Castillo.

Florida didn’t get a runner past first base until the sixth inning, when Penny singled for the Marlins’ second hit.

He was forced at second on a grounder by Castillo, who then stole his major league-leading 39th base with two outs. Lowell hit an inning-ending grounder.

Atlanta 6, Houston 5--Gary Sheffield homered off Nelson Cruz (1-6) leading off the 13th inning at Houston and shortstop Rafael Furcal threw out Craig Biggio at the plate to end the game, lifting the Braves.

The Braves have won nine of 11. They own the best record in the majors at 76-39 and lead the NL East by 18 games--the largest margin in any division.

Closer Billy Wagner blew a three-run lead in the ninth for Houston, which still remained two games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central. The Astros lost for only the fourth time in 14 games.

Tim Spooneybarger (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for his first major league victory. John Smoltz got his 41st save in 45 opportunities.

New York 2, St. Louis 1--Al Leiter gave up one run in seven innings, winning for the first time in four starts, and Mo Vaughn homered as the Mets silenced the slumping Cardinals at St. Louis.

The NL Central-leading Cardinals have lost eight of nine and scored one run in five of the last six games. The exception was a 5-3 victory over Montreal on Thursday that ended their season-worst seven-game losing streak.

St. Louis has been outscored 50-20 during its slump.

Leiter (10-8) gave up 14 runs in 16 innings his three previous starts, going 0-1, but entered with an NL-leading 2.03 earned-run average in night games. He gave up five hits, with two strikeouts and three walks.

Montreal 11, Milwaukee 4--Jose Macias drove in a career-high five runs, and Bartolo Colon won for the fifth time in six decisions with the Expos in a victory at Milwaukee.

Vladimir Guerrero tied Ken Griffey Jr. as the second-youngest player to reach 200 homers when he hit his 30th of the season, a line drive to left-center off Mike DeJean leading off the ninth. Guerrero, like Griffey, reached 200 when he was 26 years 182 days. That trails only Alex Rodriguez, who reached it at 25 years 290 days.

Colorado 2, Chicago 0--Denny Neagle pitched three-hit ball over seven innings, and the Rockies won at Denver for their fourth consecutive victory. The game was the fastest of season at Coors Field, taking only 2 hours 19 minutes.