Finley Leads Diamondbacks to Victory

Steve Finley tripled, doubled and drove in four runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks ended a five-game losing streak against the last-place San Diego Padres with a 7-1 victory Saturday night.

After being held scoreless through seven innings by rookie Oliver Perez, the Diamondbacks tied the score on Finley’s run-scoring triple in the eighth inning.

Arizona leads the Dodgers by 1 1/2 games in the National League West.

Finley capped his big night with a three-run double in the ninth, eventually scoring on the play on a throwing error by second baseman Julius Matos.

Jay Bell, playing for the first time since scoring the winning run in the World Series, singled in the go-ahead run with two out in the eighth inning.

Bell had been sidelined all season because of an injury to each calf muscle until being activated Friday night.

He made his season debut Saturday, playing first base for the first time and going one for three with one RBI.

San Diego’s bullpen blew a 1-0 lead after Perez made another impressive start, holding the Diamondbacks to four hits in seven innings and striking out seven.

Steve Reed started the eighth and walked the only batter he faced, Junior Spivey. Lefty Mike Holtz (1-1) came on and got two straight outs, but Finley tripled into the Diamondback bullpen in the right-field corner to score Spivey with the tying run.

Two pitches later, Bell singled up the middle to score Finley.

Craig Counsell added an RBI double in the ninth for Arizona.

Mike Myers (4-3) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win.

After walking Mark Kotsay with two out in the eighth, Myers struck out Ryan Klesko.

Padre catcher Tom Lampkin homered to right leading off the third inning against John Patterson, who was making his major league debut.

Patterson, a 24-year-old right-hander who had won his last five decisions with triple-A Tucson, was recalled Friday after Rick Helling went on the disabled list. Patterson gave up one run and three hits in six innings.

Perez, who at 20 is the youngest player in the majors, walked three and lowered his earned-run average from 3.35 to 2.82.