Major League Baseball

Maldonado homers in 17th, Brewers beat Diamondbacks 7-6

Published May. 31, 2015 8:48 p.m. ET

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MILWAUKEE (AP) Martin Maldonado slid into home plate just for fun. After 17 innings, it was a well-earned celebration for the weary Milwaukee catcher.

Maldonado homered to center field with one out in the bottom of the 17th, helping the Brewers outlast the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-6 Sunday to snap a seven-game losing streak.

''I was really tired, so I was happy to end the game like that,'' he said.

Maldonado hit the first pitch from reliever Vidal Nuno (0-1). As he rounded the bases, his equally fatigued but giddy Brewers teammates surrounded the plate.

They had every intention of piling on once he slid into home.

''I had never done it before,'' Maldonado said. ''It was hard to get back up. Everybody was on top of me.''

Making his first relief appearance since 2010, Matt Garza (3-7) threw five scoreless innings. He stranded a runner in scoring position in the 13th, 15th and 17th.

''Those games are tough for the guys, especially the road team,'' Arizona manager Chip Hale said. ''We had many opportunities to score.''

It was the longest Brewers home game since Milwaukee lost 4-2 to the Chicago Cubs in 17 innings on May 15, 2003. At 5 hours, 49 minutes, it was the longest game by time at Miller Park, which opened in 2001.

Maldonado will remember this day for a while.

He caught all 17 innings and went 4 for 6 with three runs and two RBIs. He doubled in a two-run sixth that helped Milwaukee rally from a 5-1 deficit to take a 6-5 lead.

''He's got tomorrow off,'' manager Craig Counsell said.

Good thing for Maldonado that All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy is expected to return from the disabled list from a broken toe on Monday.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

The game could have ended much earlier if either side could have come up with a clutch hit.

Instead, dinner dates were pushed back, and flights for out-of-town visitors were missed.

The teams left a combined 32 runners on base, 17 by Arizona.

Ender Inciarte, who entered after Diamondbacks left fielder David Peralta got hurt in the first, stranded eight runners in four at-bats after the eighth.

In each instance, the Brewers walked slugger Paul Goldschmidt - three times intentionally - to get to Inciarte. He popped up weakly to shortstop to end the top of the 15th with a runner at second.

''I had complete confidence that he would do it, every time, that he would get a hit,'' Hale said about Inciarte. ''We'll get it.''

Arizona's best shot in extras came with one out in the 13th. Garza escaped that jam by getting Inciarte to pop out and Mark Trumbo to fly out to deep left to leave A.J. Pollock stranded at third.

GOOD GARZA

Garza ended up pitching on regular four days' rest after his turn in the rotation originally was pushed back a day to Monday in St. Louis. He had been struggling on the mound of late.

Garza ended up turning in one of his best outings of the year, allowing three hits and walking two in his five-inning relief stint.

''Whatever they need, I was going to go,'' Garza said.

GETTING GOING

By the top of the 14th inning, Diamondbacks trainers were handing out energy drinks to players on the bench. Brewers backup catcher Juan Centeno wore a plastic gum container on his head as a makeshift rally cap.

But the bullpens dominated.

RECORD ROOM

Diamondbacks: Goldschmidt set a team record by reaching base seven times. He was 3 for 4 with four walks.

Brewers: The nine pitchers used was a team record for a game before September, when rosters are allowed to expand.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Peralta exited after getting hit by a pitch on his right hand while trying to bunt in the first inning. ... LHP Patrick Corbin (Tommy John surgery) was slated to throw a side session.

Brewers: 1B Adam Lind didn't start because of a sore back. He grounded out as a pinch hitter in the eighth. Counsell said Lind will likely sit again Monday in St. Louis with the Cardinals scheduled to start lefty Jaime Garcia.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Archie Bradley (2-2) starts Monday against Atlanta, his fourth appearance since returning from a sinus fracture suffered when he was struck in the face by Carlos Gonzalez's line drive on April 28. Bradley is 0-2 since returning, having given up 14 runs in 10 2-3 innings.

Brewers: Mike Fiers (1-5) will start on regular rest after the Brewers were forced to use Garza in relief.

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Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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