Reynolds homers twice as D-backs beat Padres 7-2
PHOENIX (AP) -- Arizona third baseman Mark Reynolds says the Diamondbacks are in spoiler mode with the season winding down.
Reynolds drove in five runs with a pair of two-run home runs and a single to lead the Diamondbacks to a 7-2 win over the San Diego Padres.
The Diamondbacks won their fourth in five games, extending the Padres' longest skid of the season to five.
"Every win we can get down the stretch against first-place or wild-card teams is huge," Reynolds said. "We're going to keep pressing and keep trying to put losses on teams that have a chance to get to the postseason and play the spoiler role."
Reynolds homered to the opposite field with two outs to cap a four-run first inning for Arizona. Miguel Montero scored on the homer after hitting a two-run double.
Reynolds went deep again in the third -- again with two outs -- this time pulling one well over the left field wall. Both homers came off losing pitcher Wade LeBlanc (8-12), who lasted only three innings and gave up six runs on six hits.
"Command was a big part but it was just part of what went wrong (Monday)," LeBlanc said. "It was just a bad night all around. I didn't bring anything to the table and I got crushed all over the yard."
Reynolds has 31 home runs, making him the eighth major-leaguer this season to reach 30. He also recorded his ninth career two-homer game and second this season. He added a run-scoring single in the eighth to raise his RBI total to 81.
Diamondbacks starter Joe Saunders (2-4) ended a personal four-game losing streak with his first win since Aug. 3. Saunders gave up a two-run homer to Miguel Tejada in the first inning, but didn't allow any more runs while scattering nine more hits. He lasted eight innings, giving way to Aaron Heilman in the ninth.
"I stayed positive and my defense played excellent behind me, and the run support and the way we were swinging the bat, the guys did the little things," Saunders said. "It was a fun game."
Leadoff man Stephen Drew went 2-for-4 for Arizona and is 16-for-32 (.500), including 11 runs and six doubles, over his past seven games.
Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson has been pleased with his players' approaches to at-bats in recent games.
"We've got a long way to go, but recently we've been pounding it pretty good," Gibson said.
Notes: Diamondbacks OF Justin Upton left the game after seven innings with left shoulder pain from a bad swing on a foul-tip strikeout in his final at-bat. It's a problem he has dealt with in the past, but has only caused him to miss an occasional game ... 1B Adam LaRoche was held out of the lineup Monday because of a sore knee, though he took batting practice before the game. ... The Padres recalled OF Aaron Cunningham from Triple-A Portland and optioned P Luis Perdomo to Portland. ... Padres starter Chris Young, on the 60-day disabled list with a right shoulder injury since April 12, is scheduled for a rehabilitation start Tuesday in Reno. Black said Young will throw three innings and 50 to 55 pitches.
Updated August 30, 2010