NEW YORK, 10 April 2006 — Carlos Lee drove in the winning run with a single in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in National League play Saturday in Milwaukee.
Lee’s hit gave the Brewers their fifth straight victory, as Milwaukee improved to 5-0 to start the season for the first time since 1987 and just the third time in franchise history.
But Lee’s RBI double in the bottom of the third started the Brewer comeback and Milwaukee got some good relief pitching to keep the game tied until Lee later drove in J.J. Hardy with his ninth inning single.
Hardy led off the ninth inning rally with a one-out double and Geoff Jenkins was intentionally walked by reliever Luis Vizcaino to get to Lee, who lined a single up the middle to end the game.
Arizona still led 4-2 heading into the sixth, but Gabe Gross drove in a pair of runs with a single to tie the game, with the Milwaukee bullpen taking over from there.
Starter Doug Davis gave up four runs on five hits over five innings, but three relievers combined for four innings of two-hit, shutout relief, including closer Dan Kolb, who picked up the win with a scoreless ninth.
Hardy and Prince Fielder both had three of the Brewers’ 13 hits, with Fielder hitting his first home run of the season in the fourth inning.
Damion Easley had two hits and drove in two runs for the D-Backs, while Luis Gonzales homered for the second straight day.
Arizona starter Brandon Webb went six innings, allowing four runs — three earned — on nine hits. Vizcaino allowed one run on two hits in the ninth and was charged with the loss.
In San Francisco, Omar Vizquel had four hits and drove in five run to help lift the Giants to a 12-6 mauling of the Atlanta Braves.
Moises Alou hit a two-run homer for the Giants while Steve Finley added two hits and an RBI. Jamey Wright (1-0) allowed four runs on five hits over seven innings for the win.
Tim Hudson (0-1) gave up eight runs on eight hits in four innings and took the loss. Edgar Renteria and Chipper Jones both drove in three runs for Atlanta.
In Chicago, Derrek Lee hit a tie-breaking solo home run in the eighth inning, giving the Cubs a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Lee had three hits and Michael Barrett hit a two-run homer for the Cubs. Bob Howry got two outs for the win and Ryan Dempster pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save. Brad Thompson took the loss.
