Phoenix, AZ (Best E Casino) - Justin Upton went 2-for-3 with a double and a solo home run, and Doug Davis struck out a season-high eight batters, as the
Arizona Diamondbacks edged the
Oakland Athletics, 2-1, in the finale of a three-game set.
Davis went six innings and was hit for only one run on three hits, but did not factor in the decision. Tony Pena (1-1) took the win as he hurled a perfect eighth inning. Brandon Lyon earned his 15th save of the year with a perfect ninth, giving Arizona its second straight win. Chris Young went 2-for-2 and accounted for the other D'Backs RBI.
"Doug pitched pretty much the way he did last time out," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "The ball he gave up for a run was kind of a Bermuda Triangle type of thing. He shouldn't have given up a run and too bad we couldn't have given him more support."
Greg Smith started for the A's and went five innings, giving up a run on three hits while striking out four and walking three. Keith Foulke (0-2) absorbed the loss as he gave up Upton's go-ahead home run in the eighth. Jack Cust went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Jack Hannahan had Oakland's only extra-base hit with a double, as the club dropped back-to-back games following a four-game winning streak.
"He was good," Oakland manager Bob Geren said of Smith. "He had thrown only 86 pitches but his spot came up. He had thrown the ball pretty consistent the whole game. He pitched well enough to win but we didn't get him any runs."
Foulke took over on the mound for Oakland in the eighth and gave up a lead off home run to Upton, giving Arizona a 2-1 lead.
Lyon was called on to close it out for the D'Backs in the ninth and got Ryan Sweeney to line out. Cust then grounded out and Bobby Crosby popped out to center to make it official.
The D'Backs got on the board in the fourth inning. Upton led off with a double and moved to third two batters later, as Conor Jackson singled to left. Mark Reynolds then worked a walk to load the bases and Young's sac fly to center scored Upton.
The A's tied it up in the sixth. Mark Ellis worked a one-out walk and Sweeney followed with a single. Cust then singled to left and Ellis crossed home.
The clubs combined for just six hits through six innings.
Game Notes
The Athletics are 6-3 over their last nine games in Arizona...The Athletics reinstated right-handed pitcher Santiago Casilla from the 15-day disabled list and designated fellow righty Kiko Calero for assignment prior to Thursday's matchup.
