Healed Lamb 'locked in' as D-backs take series from Brewers
PHOENIX -- As Jake Lamb's previously injured wrist has healed, he's heated up at the plate.
Lamb and Phil Gosselin each hit two-run homers during a five-run fifth inning to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-3 on Sunday.
Lamb said his wrist was affecting his swing as recently as last month when the team was on a road trip. He was rested against the Brewers in Milwaukee.
"Once I came back, it wasn't affecting my swing at all," Lamb said. "I'm just executing my approach. Looking for fastballs and hitting fastballs. You want to call it locked in, it's locked in, but yeah, definitely feel good right now."
Twelve of Lamb's 24 home runs have tied the game or given the Diamondbacks a lead. He hit three home runs in the team's just-completed six-game homestand and went 9 for 26 overall.
Lamb's homer Sunday gave Arizona a 5-3 lead against starter Jimmy Nelson, and Gosselin delivered a pinch-hit homer off reliever Michael Blazek to make it 8-3. The Diamondbacks matched the single-inning club record for extra-base hits with five.
Daniel Hudson (2-2) won by getting the final out in the fifth in relief of starter Archie Bradley.
Nelson (6-11) allowed six earned runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out four, walked three, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch.
"He's not where he we wants to be or where we want him to be. Things are snowballing a little bit," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We have to get more quality pitches. Every pitcher goes through this, there is going to be stuff that goes on and you have to move on to the next pitch. That's the game. Jimmy's preparation is second to none."
The Brewers took a 1-0 lead after Jonathan Villar led off the game with a walk, stole second and later scored on a wild pitch.
Villar added another stolen base in the fifth for his 43rd this season, tying him with Billy Hamilton for the major league lead.
Ryan Braun thwarted the Diamondbacks' first-inning attempt to tie it when he threw out speedy Michael Bourn from left field to home plate on Lamb's single. The tag play was close but not reviewed, and it ended the inning.
Villar made it 2-0 with his ninth home run of the season, a solo shot to left-center field in the third inning.
The Brewers made several miscues in the fourth and lost the lead. The Diamondbacks loaded the bases with no outs against Nelson, who hit back-to-back batters after issuing a leadoff walk. Villar then tumbled into the home dugout to catch Tuffy Gosewich's foul pop, allowing Yasmany Tomas to score from third base.
Bradley's bunt was fielded by first baseman Andy Wilkins, who threw too high to home for an error. Then Jean Segura reached on Nelson's wild throw to first base, allowing Owings to score and giving the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead.
Bradley couldn't make it out of the fifth despite striking out the first two hitters. Villar walked, stole second and took third on Gosewich's throwing error on the steal and scored on Orlando Arcia's single. That tied it at 3.
Nelson gave up four of the Diamondbacks' runs in the fifth, including Owing's RBI triple.
During a break in the top of the eighth inning for some mound maintenance, the video highlight of Ichiro Suzuki's 3,000th hit was played on the scoreboard at Chase Field. Fans reacted with applause.
Diamondbacks: OF David Peralta went on the 15-day disabled list for the third time this season, the second time for a wrist injury. OF Socrates Brito was called up from Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move. ... Arizona sent reliever Evan Marshall to Reno to make room for Zack Greinke's return to the rotation from the disabled list Tuesday. Zack Godley will pitch out of the bullpen for the near future.
Brewers: RHP Zach Davies is scheduled for his 20th start of the season when he faces the Atlanta Braves on Monday in Milwaukee. Davies (9-4) is 9-1 in 16 starts with a 2.86 ERA since starting the season 0-3.
Diamondbacks: After a day off Monday, the Diamondbacks welcome ace Greinke (10-3, 3.62 ERA) back into the rotation Tuesday at the New York Mets. Greinke will come of the 15-day disabled list after more than a month dealing with a left oblique strain.
