Schilling Looks Like His Old Self in Win

The Arizona Diamondbacks couldn’t have had a better start to the second half.

Curt Schilling pitched seven strong innings to win for the first time since returning from the disabled list and the Diamondbacks routed the last-place Padres, 9-1, on Thursday at San Diego.

Schilling said he still has work to do after his six-week layoff with a broken right hand, but his manager was impressed.

“This was a real good step in the right direction,” Bob Brenly said.

Schilling (5-4) gave up only one run -- unearned because of his error -- and eight hits, struck out eight and walked one in his second start since coming off the DL.

*

San Francisco 8, Colorado 4 -- Edgardo Alfonzo had three hits and drove in two runs and Rich Aurilia had two RBIs and doubled twice at San Francisco. Damian Moss (8-6) won for the first time in five starts.

*

Philadelphia 5, Montreal 2 -- Marlon Byrd’s two-out, three-run homer in the 11th inning was the difference at Philadelphia.

*

Atlanta 3, New York 2 -- Mark DeRosa’s check-swing infield single in the ninth inning scored Vinny Castilla from third and gave Greg Maddux the win at Atlanta.

With the Mets playing their first game without closer Armando Benitez, the Braves loaded the bases with one out against John Franco (0-2). DeRosa then hit a dribbler to second baseman Joe McEwing, who couldn’t come up with the ball as Castilla scored the winning run.

*

Milwaukee 7, Pittsburgh 5 -- John Vander Wal’s third grand slam this season helped open a seven-run lead, and the Brewers overcame Craig Wilson’s pinch-hit slam to hold off the Pirates at Pittsburgh.