Drew hits for cycle, D'backs beat Cardinals 8-6

[September 02, 2008]  PHOENIX (AP) -- Stephen Drew became the first player to hit for the cycle in Chase Field, and newly acquired David Eckstein singled home the winning run to help the Arizona Diamondbacks rally past the St. Louis Cardinals 8-6 on Monday.

Adam Dunn, Chris Young and Mark Reynolds also homered for the slumping Diamondbacks, who overcame a poor start by Randy Johnson.

Batting leadoff, Drew singled in the first, tripled in the third and homered in the fifth against St. Louis Cardinals starter Joel Pineiro. He hit a ground-rule double in the seventh against reliever Kyle McClellan (2-7) as the Chase Field crowd rose for a standing ovation.

Drew added another double in the eighth for his fifth hit, matching a career high and becoming the 12th Diamondbacks player to have five hits in a game.

Drew also became the third Diamondback to hit for the cycle in the franchise's 11-year history. Luis Gonzalez did it on July 5, 2000, at Houston and Greg Colbrunn did it on Sept. 18, 2002, at San Diego.

Chad Qualls (3-8) pitched the seventh to earn the win. Brandon Lyon pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 31 chances.

Down 5-1 in the third, the Diamondbacks chipped away at Pineiro, who allowed four runs and six hits in five innings.

Arizona tied it at 6-6 in the sixth, when Reynolds hit a two-run shot on the first pitch from McClellan.

The Diamondbacks took the lead for the first time in the seventh on a single by Eckstein, who was acquired from Toronto on Sunday and started at second base. Another run scored on a wild pitch by Russ Springer.

The Diamondbacks' rally spared Johnson his 10th loss.

One day after ace Brandon Webb lasted only 3 1-3 innings, the Diamondbacks needed a lengthy outing from Johnson. But the Big Unit lasted only 3 2-3 innings, matching his shortest start of the season.

Johnson, who has 294 career victories, is winless in his last four starts.

Johnson gave up four homers, matching a career high, and they traveled an estimated 1,598 feet, combined. 

Yadier Molina led off the second with a 404-foot shot to left center. One batter later, Joe Mather hit a 380-foot homer into the bullpen down the left field line.

In the third, Albert Pujols hit a 416-foot bullet deep into the left field bleachers with a man aboard to give the Cardinals a 4-1 lead. Two batters later, Felipe Lopez hit a 398-foot solo homer to left, and St. Louis led 5-1.

Notes: Arizona RF Justin Upton left the game after being hit in the head with a pickoff attempt by St. Louis pitcher Adam Thompson in the eighth. Upton stayed on the ground for several minutes before walking off under his own power. ... Arizona RHP Jon Rauch was ejected by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna as Rauch walked off the mound in the middle of the sixth. ... Mather left after four innings with a sprained left wrist.

[Associated Press; By ANDREW BAGNATO]

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