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Costly error Diamondbacks take advantage of Braves' blunder
Updated: Saturday August 11, 2001 9:13 PM
ATLANTA (AP) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks are back in first -- and they didn't need Curt Schilling or Randy Johnson to get there. Miguel Batista pitched five strong innings and the bullpen was perfect the rest of the way, leading the Diamondbacks to a 3-1 victory Saturday over the slumping Atlanta Braves. Arizona, leading the NL West by a half-game, broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth when two runs scored on an infield grounder. "It's been a long time since we've gotten any breaks," manager Bob Brenly said. "You can't say enough about the bullpen." Batista (7-7) allowed five hits and an unearned run before giving way to the relievers. Bobby Witt, Troy Brohawn, Bret Prinze and Byung-Hyun Kim combined for four perfect innings, with Kim earning his 10th save. "We have the best bullpen in the league," Batista said. Arizona won for the first time since July 25 in a game started by someone other than Schilling (17-5) or Johnson (15-5). "I don't want anybody to think only they can win," Tony Womack said. "The other guys have kept us in games. We just didn't get timely hits." Batista has been on the mound for the last two Arizona wins without the Big Two. He pitched just long enough for Brenly. "Miguel usually struggles about the sixth inning," the manager said, "so I figured we would have to go to the bullpen." The Braves lost their fourth in a row and dropped into a tie with Philadelphia for the East lead. The Phillies beat Los Angeles 7-3, which helped Arizona flip-flop with the Dodgers in the West. "I'm not worried about that," Womack said to reporters. "You guys worry about going back and forth in the standings. We just go out and play." Womack was at the center of the game's decisive play in the sixth. With two outs and runners at second and third, the leadoff hitter grounded to first baseman Ken Caminiti, who flipped to Jason Marquis covering. The pitcher stabbed at the bag with his right foot, appearing unable to find it until the speedy Womack arrived. First-base umpire Tim Welke called safe, allowing Steve Finley to score. Marquis held up his glove and began to plead his case, failing to notice Damian Miller coming in to score all the way from second until it was too late. "I know I had the bag the whole time," Marquis (2-4) said. "There's no doubt in my mind. I got it the first time and I reached back to get it again in case the umpire didn't see it. I guess he thought I was going back because I missed it." Womack disputed Marquis' version of the play. "He never touched the bag," the Arizona player said. "If he got the bag, why did he do a double take?" The Braves took advantage of a close call in the fifth to break a scoreless streak of 17 1-3 innings. Womack bobbled a grounder by Marcus Giles, recovered and made a throw that appeared to beat the runner. Welke called him safe, however, and Giles came around to score when Dave Martinez followed with a two-out double into the right-field corner. Until Martinez's hit, the Braves had not gotten an extra-base hit or a runner past second in those 17 1/3 innings. Chipper Jones followed with a walk, then Arizona retired the last 13 hitters -- only one ball leaving the infield. "It's very frustrating," Caminiti said. "But it will get better. This is a winning team with a winning attitude. We just have to get back on track." Matt Williams had an RBI double in the first against Marquis, who gave up six hits and three runs -- only one earned because of his error -- in six innings. Notes: Braves OF B.J. Surhoff missed his second straight game with a strained left quadriceps. ... Arizona won back-to-back games for the first time since July 24-25 against San Diego. ... Atlanta has made seven errors in the last three games. ... Jones has an 11-game hitting streak. ... Arizona's Luis Gonzalez went 2-of-5 but has gone seven games without homering. He has 43 for the season.
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