Arizona loses bid for 5-0 start on homer

[April 13, 2012]  SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks had plenty of scoring chances as they tried to improve to 5-0 for the first time in their 15-season history. By stranding 11 runners, they let the San Diego Padres stick around too long.

Chris Denorfia hit a two-run homer with one out in the eighth inning Wednesday that carried the Padres to a 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks, who had been the last unbeaten team in the major leagues.

Denorfia's clutch shot to straightaway center field -- his first of the season -- came on a 2-1 pitch from David Hernandez (0-1). Cameron Maybin was aboard on a walk.

Center fielder Chris Young lost his glove over the fence trying to make a leaping grab. Someone from the Padres' bullpen retrieved it for him.

"We couldn't close it out," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "We had many opportunities. We weren't very good with runners in scoring position. We couldn't get the big hit. We didn't make use of our opportunities and it bit us."

Ernesto Frieri (1-0) threw 1 1-3 innings, and Huston Street pitched a perfect ninth for his first save with the Padres.

Until the homer, the Padres had only one baserunner advance as far as second.

Hernandez had replaced Joe Saunders, who allowed four hits over seven innings in his season debut. He struck out four and walked two.

"In a game like that, you have to put up zeroes," Saunders said. "They got out of a lot of big jams and we couldn't capitalize on them. I was just trying to throw up zeroes and give the bullpen a little break."

San Diego's Cory Luebke struggled in the first inning, when he threw 43 pitches and walked four. With two-outs, he loaded the bases by walking Chris Young and then forced in Willie Bloomquist with a walk to Jason Kubel. Luebke struck out Paul Goldschmidt to end the threat.

Luebke then threw 61 pitches over his final 4 1-3 innings. He allowed one run and four hits, struck out five and walked four.

With two outs in the second, Bloomquist hit a ball off the top of the wall in left field that was ruled a triple. Three of the umpires went in for a video review and upheld the call. Bloomquist was stranded when Aaron Hill flied out to center.

Arizona loaded the bases again in the seventh on a single and two walks before Frieri got Kubel to pop up to second baseman Orlando Hudson.

Luebke allowed one run and four hits in 5 1-3 innings, struck out five and walked four.

NOTES: Bloomquist extended his hitting streak to 11 games. ... The series concludes Thursday night when Arizona's Ian Kennedy (1-0, 4.05) is scheduled to start against Anthony Bass (0-1, 2.25). Bass will start in place of Dustin Moseley. Bass made three starts for San Diego last year, including his big league debut on June 13 at Colorado. ... Joe Wieland is the leading contender to start for the Padres on Saturday night at Los Angeles, which would be his major league debut. Wieland was one of two prospects acquired from Texas for Mike Adams on July 31. ... Moseley, on the 15-day DL with what manager Bud Black calls "extensive damage" in his right shoulder, said he doesn't want to rush into a decision whether to have surgery or rehab the injury. He was placed on the DL on Sunday, a day after allowing five runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

[Associated Press; By BERNIE WILSON]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.