updated 2:04 a.m. ET Aug. 12, 2011
PHOENIX - Paul Goldschmidt struck first, sending the game to extra innings with a dramatic homer. Chris Young took over from there, finishing off Arizona's third consecutive win with an impressive drive of his own.
So much for their slumps.
Goldschmidt belted a tying two-run shot with two out in the ninth and Young hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning to give the Diamondbacks an 8-5 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday night.
"That'll make you smile," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said.
Houston was one strike away from wrapping up a 5-3 victory before pinch-hitter Goldschmidt drove a 2-2 pitch from Mark Melancon off the second-deck fa?ade in left for his second career homer.
"Once it got to two strikes I was trying to battle and put something in play," Goldschmidt said. "As you see more and more pitches you feel more comfortable."
Goldschmidt had been anything but comfortable during the four-game series, managing two hits in 12 at-bats and striking out while flailing at breaking pitches on Wednesday.
Against Melancon, Goldschmidt fouled off several off-speed pitches before finally getting something he could square up.
"He left a fastball up over the middle and I was able to hit it," Goldschmidt said. "I've tried to make adjustments throughout my whole career. There's not a big difference between a foul ball or a home run."
Young also had been struggling. He began the day in a 4-for-25 rut and the homer was his first since July 2 in Oakland, a span of 114 at-bats.
"Just because I don't have a home run in a while, I'm not going to try and hit a home run," Young said. "I've had times when I've gone a month without a home run and I've had times when I've had seven in a week."
Ryan Roberts and Justin Upton led off the 10th with consecutive singles off Jeff Fulchino (1-4). Sergio Escalona came in and retired Miguel Montero before Young hit a drive to left for his sixth career game-ending homer.
"We didn't have any plan other than to get ahead of the count, make a good pitch and make the location," Escalona said. "I didn't. He hurt me. I tried to go away and I missed the spot."
J.J. Putz (2-2) pitched a scoreless 10th inning for the NL West-leading Diamondbacks, who moved a full game ahead of idle San Francisco.
"I give these kids a lot of credit for their resiliency," Gibson said. "The important thing is they keep grinding through."
Jason Bourgeois and Jose Altuve each had three hits for Houston, which wasted a solid start by Brett Myers and lost their third straight game. Carlos Lee and J.D. Martinez had two RBIs apiece.
Bourgeois helped the Astros take a 5-1 lead in the seventh when he tripled under the glove of a diving Upton in right and scored on Altuve's third single of the night.
But the Diamondbacks responded with two runs in the eighth. Roberts doubled in Willie Bloomquist and scored on Montero's bloop single to center.
Melancon struck out Kelly Johnson to start the ninth and Xavier Nady singled off third baseman Jimmy Paredes' glove. Melancon then struck out Gerardo Parra before Goldschmidt connected.
It was Melancon's fourth blown save in 15 attempts and his first since June 26 against Tampa Bay.
Arizona starter Joe Saunders allowed the leadoff hitter to reach in four of the first five innings and it came back to haunt him in the Astros' three-run fifth.
Saunders walked Myers and Bourgeois followed with a single off the glove of a sliding Upton. Altuve reached on a bunt hit to load the bases and Martinez doubled off the left-field wall, scoring Myers and Bourgeois for a 3-0 lead.
Altuve scored when Lee lined a pitch off Saunders' glove for an RBI groundout.
Bloomquist singled in a run in the bottom half against Myers, who was charged with three runs and six hits in 7 2-3 innings.
"He battled through the whole game and really did a good job," Astros manager Brad Mills said of Myers, who is winless in 10 starts since June 17.
Notes: Montero threw out two runners trying to steal second and the Astros were 1 for 4 on stolen-base attempts overall. . Martinez was thrown out at home on a failed suicide squeeze attempt in the second. . Martinez made the defensive play of the night when he tracked a fly ball by Roberts into foul territory in left, had his feet slide out from under him but still reached back over his head while lying prone to make the catch. ... Martinez is the first player in Astros history to hit four homers and drive in 12 runs in his first 10 career games. . The Diamondbacks claimed SS Tommy Manzella off waivers from the Astros and optioned the 28-year-old to Triple-A Reno. To make room for Manzella, the Diamondbacks moved Juan Gutierrez (right shoulder inflammation) to the 60-day disabled list. . RHP Ian Kennedy is scheduled to pitch for Arizona on Friday against the New York Mets. Kennedy has won six straight starts, the longest active streak in the majors. . RHP Dillon Gee, the scheduled starter for the Mets, has lost four of his last six decisions.
? 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/44115978/ns/sports-baseball/
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