Power of Caring
  presented by CIGNA

Brewers slide by Diamondbacks

Burnitz drives in six in Milwaukee's 9-8 win over Arizona

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Thursday September 09, 1999 07:47 PM

Jeromy Burnitz drove in a season-high six runs, including this second inning home run. AP

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The hard-hitting Arizona Diamondbacks ran into a pitcher at County Stadium they could not overcome.

Unfortunately, it was their own Armando Reynoso.

The Diamondbacks, who scored 28 runs in the three-game series, saw Reynoso give up six runs in two innings Thursday in a 9-8 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Arizona had its NL West lead cut to seven games over idle San Francisco.

"We had an opportunity to win today," Arizona manager Buck Showalter said. "We just dug ourselves a little too big a hole there. They're a good hitting team, also."

Jeromy Burnitz drove in a season-high six runs with a home run, double and two singles. Scott Karl (9-11) won at home for the first time in 18 starts since July 15, 1998.

Karl allowed six runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings. Karl was 0-9 with a 5.52 ERA during his winless streak at Milwaukee.

Burnitz went 4-for-5 with a two-run double off Reynoso (10-4) in the first, a two-run homer in the second, a run-scoring single against Brian Anderson in the fourth and an RBI single off Darren Holmes in the sixth.

Arizona's Steve Finley, who hit three home runs Wednesday, hit his fifth in three games and matched his career high with 30. His last 10 hits have been for extra bases, including four doubles, a triple and five home runs.

"We believed we were going to come back, we knew we were going to come back," said Finley, who made the final out with a runner on first. "We had no doubt, no matter how far back we got, we were going to keep coming at them. We put ourselves in a position to win the ballgame, it just didn't happen. You can't do it all the time."

Arizona headed home after a 4-2 road trip for the start of a nine-game homestand Friday against Philadelphia.

Reynoso was chased after two innings, his shortest outing since Sept. 27, 1998, at Atlanta. He was tagged for six runs and seven hits.

"I have to keep taking a positive approach and find a way to good pitching," said Reynoso, who allowed four runs on eight hits in 3 2-3 innings in his previous start. "The ball was high. I just have to prepare for the next start."

Milwaukee let Arizona close to 7-6 in the sixth when Hector Ramirez relieved Karl with the bases loaded and allowed a two-run single by Lenny Harris and an RBI double by Damian Miller.

"I thought I pitched well," Karl said. "I'm disappointed I got pulled out of that ballgame. I still wanted to be in there and I felt like I should be in there, but I don't make those decisions."

Burnitz hit a run-scoring single off Holmes in the bottom half and Jeff Cirillo followed with an RBI double.

Pinch-hitter Erubiel Durazo had a two-run homer off Rafael Roque in the eighth, his ninth homer in 100 at-bats since joining the Diamondbacks on July 25.

Bob Wickman, who blew his last save opportunity Sunday by allowing four runs on five hits in one-third of an inning, then held off Arizona in the ninth for his 30th save in 36 chances.

"We hung in there. The offense really took charge for us and kept that little cushion that we needed," Brewers manager Jim Lefebvre said.

Both benches emptied briefly in the eighth after Alex Ochoa was tagged out at first by Holmes, but no punches were thrown.

Milwaukee, which outhit the Diamondbacks 14-11, took a 3-0 lead in the first on Geoff Jenkins' RBI double and Burnitz's two-run double.

Marquis Grissom hit a solo homer in the second and Burnitz's team-leading 29th homer made it 6-0.

Miller homered in the third, and Finley hit a two-run shot in the fourth.

Burnitz's single increased the lead to 7-3 in the bottom half.

Notes: Reynoso has allowed 18 first-inning runs in 25 starts (6.48). His overall ERA is 4.19. ... Arizona lost for just the fifth time in its last 28 road games. ... Brewers RHP Steve Woodard, on the disabled list for more than three weeks with a fractured wrist, is expected to start Saturday in place of rookie Kyle Peterson, whose turn is being skipped to give him a rest. ... Burnitz had just two homers and seven RBI in 19 games since coming off the disabled list with a broken bone in his hand. ... Jenkins left in the fourth after being hit by a pitch on the wrist. X-rays were negative. .. Grissom extended his hitting streak to eight games ... Durazo's pinch-hit homer was the fourth by the Diamondbacks this season. ... The Brewers had three batters one hit away from the cycle. Burnitz and Grissom each needed a triple and Ron Belliard needed a home run.

 

Related information
Stories
Sosa slams No. 59 in another Cubs loss Astros complete perfect road trip Fan selling McGwire's 500th home run ball
Stats
Diamondbacks-Brewers Box Score MLB Standings
Multimedia
Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.