With the score tied, the Diamondbacks got what they wanted. A sharp ground ball back to the pitcher. A double-play ball. A ninth-inning rally killer.

---

Diamondbacks-Cubs photos | Box score | MLB scoreboard

---

Pitcher J.J. Putz fielded the ball cleanly, wheeled and threw to shortstop Stephen Drew, racing to cover second.

Drew had to lunge left to catch the ball, dragging his foot to touch second for the forceout. But he double clutched on his throw to first, giving the Cubs’ Kosuke Fukudome the extra half-second needed to beat the throw and keep the inning alive.

Darwin Barney and Starlin Castro followed with run-scoring singles, leading the Cubs to a 5-3 win Saturday night in front of 27,652 fans at Chase Field.

“The big play was the double play,” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. “We had a chance to end it right there. . . . It was just kind of a weird play, the way Stephen received the ball.”

Said Putz: “Fukudome just beat it, I guess. I haven’t seen a replay yet. I know it was close, but he gets down the line pretty good.”

The loss closed out a subpar opening month for the Diamondbacks. As they did Saturday, they showed resilience at times, but they finished April 11-15, 6 1/2 games behind Colorado in the National League West.

The good news for Arizona fans: The summer is just getting started. Plenty of time to get hot – just like Alfonso Soriano.

“Soriano’s just on fire,” Gibson said.

A night after hitting two home runs, the Cubs outfielder smashed one in the second inning that created quite a buzz.

With two out, Arizona starter Ian Kennedy wanted to start off Soriano with a low, inside fastball. Instead, the 88-mph pitch sailed right down the middle.

From the time Soriano made contact, there was no doubt. Center fielder Chris Young turned to give chase, but gave up short of the warning track.

Soriano’s 10th home run – which ties Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun for the NL lead – struck the base of the scoreboard, a blast that likely will measure as one of the longer in Chase Field history.

“I thought it was going to hit off his own (pictured) face (on the scoreboard),” Kennedy said.

In the fourth, Soriano added a run-scoring single. In the fifth, Aramis Ramirez laced a run-scoring double for a 3-1 advantage. The Diamondbacks battled back in the sixth, tying the score behind run-scoring hits from Gerardo Parra and Drew.

By then, Kennedy had settled. The right-hander went 7 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and three runs. He struck out six and walked one.

Chicago starter Matt Garza was just as sharp in eight innings. He also allowed six hits and three runs, striking out 10 and walking two.

It came down to the ninth. It came down to execution, and a double play that got away.

“Sometimes that’s baseball,” Kennedy said.

Diamondbacks rewind

This one had distance: The Diamondbacks no longer announce estimated home-run distances, but Alfonso Soriano’s second-inning blast likely will rank among the longer hit at Chase Field.

It hit the base of the scoreboard, well above the batter’s eye in centerfield. “That was probably one of the farthest (home runs) I’ve ever given up,” Diamondbacks starter Ian Kennedy said.

In 2004, Richie Sexson hit what’s believed to be the longest home run at Chase, a 503-foot blast.

Entering the contest, Soriano was hitting .383 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs over the past three years against the Diamondbacks. In addition to Saturday’s home run, he added a run-scoring single.

Not so great: Closer J.J. Putz, wasn’t sharp, both on the mound and in the field. In addition to two throws to second that were slightly off mark, Putz allowed three hits and two runs in taking the loss.

“It’s unfortunate,” he said. “Ian gave us everything he had, and David (Hernandez) came in and got a huge out. The guys battled back all game, and I just wasn’t able to finish.”

See ya: Cubs manager Mike Quade was ejected in the ninth for arguing a close call at second base.

View from the press box

Ian Kennedy isn’t overpowering, but he is effective. The Diamondbacks right-hander has allowed just four runs over his past three outings (22 innings). He leads Arizona with four quality starts, which includes Saturday’s performance that lowered his ERA to 3.92. “He gave us a chance to win the game,” manager Kirk Gibson said.

PHOENIX (AP) — Ian Kennedy has had, as his manager Kirk Gibson said, “a pretty good week so far.”

After making an early return from New York to be with his wife Allison for the arrival of the couple’s child, Nora Rose, at 2:04 a.m. on Sunday, Kennedy outpitched Cliff Lee with a three-hitter and his first major league complete game in a 4-0 victory over Philadelphia on Monday night that snapped the Phillies’ five-game winning streak.

“It’s been surreal,” Kennedy said. “Not expecting her to come when my Allie went into labor, then flying in from New York, which is about the farthest place I could be, then watching that life-changing experience. .. It was just the cherry on top to do that (the complete game). I get emotional just thinking about it. The day after she was born — my little Easter baby.”

The Diamondbacks snapped a four-game skid as they opened a 10-game home stand after being swept in three games by the Mets in New York.

Kennedy (3-1) struck out 10 — including Jimmy Rollins to end the game — and walked none.

“To shut our lineup down like that, he was definitely doing something right,” Lee said. ‘I wouldn’t expect him to go nine innings without giving up a run. That’s impressive.”

Lee gave up first-pitch home runs to Chris Young and Gerardo Parra in an otherwise strong performance.

“They ambushed a couple of first pitches and hit homers,” Lee said. “Considering how Kennedy pitched, that was the game.”

Lee (2-2) gave up four runs and five hits in seven innings, matching his season high with 12 strikeouts, one shy of his career high, and walking one.

“The one to Young (a fastball) had a little more of the plate than I like but still I want to be aggressive, I want to throw strikes and get ahead in the count,” Lee said. “He put a good swing on it. The other homer (a cut fastball), I’ll take that pitch every time. I mean, I just have to tip my hat on that one.”

Placido Polanco doubled and singled for the Phillies in a game that went just 2 hours, 4 minutes. The only other hit off Kennedy was Rollins’ ground ball off the glove of second baseman Kelly Johnson that easily could have been ruled an error. Run scoring has been a problem for Philadelphia, despite the team’s early success.

“We’ve just got to keep going to work on it,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “Either we’re going to do it or we’re not. We’re going to keep working. We’ve got to fight every day,”

Xavier Nady had an RBI single in the sixth after Justin Upton drew just the fourth walk Lee has allowed this season, then stole second.

Kennedy, making his 49th career start, had allowed a run and four hits in 5 1-3 innings in his previous outing, a 3-1 victory at Cincinnati. Gibson had no doubt about sending him out for the ninth.

“He didn’t have any taxing innings or anything like that so I wanted him to finish that game,” Gibson said. “You get a performance like that it is important that it is his game and he goes for the shutout.”

Lee was perfect through the first two innings, but gave up a leadoff single to Ryan Roberts in the third. He struck out Parra and Kennedy to bring up Young, who had never faced the Phillies ace before popping out to second to start Arizona’s first inning.

Young, two for his previous 26 at-bats, hit a shot onto the porch above the 413-foot sign in left-center to put Arizona up 2-0.

Parra’s solo homer came after Roberts hit one to the right field fence that was caught by Ben Francisco for the first out in the fifth. Parra’s homer, into the left field seats, was only the ninth of his three-year career. He had three last season and five in 2009.

Arizona added a run in the fourth when Upton walked and stole second. Stephen Drew struck out for the third time, strongly arguing the called third strike with home plate umpire Bob Davidson, then Nady singled between third and shortstop to bring Upton home and make it 4-0.

Notes: RHP Michael Stutes pitched a scoreless inning of relief in his major league debut after Philadelphia purchased his contract from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He took the roster spot made vacant when closer Jose Contreras went on the 15-day DL with a strained elbow. Contreras is to have an MRI in Philadelphia on Tuesday. … The Phillies conclude a seven-game trip West in Arizona after going 4-0 in San Diego. … Philadelphia has not scored more than four runs in any of its past 14 games. … After three against the Phillies, the Diamondbacks play the Cubs three times then wrap up the home stand with three against Colorado.

Ian Kennedy recorded his first-career shutout, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks handle the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-0, in the opener of a three-game series.

Kennedy (3-1) gave up just three hits and struck out 10 batters for the Diamondbacks, who started a 10-game homestand on Monday. It was also the first complete game of Kennedy’s career.

“It’s been surreal,” Kennedy said. “Not expecting her to come when my Allie went into labor, then flying in from New York, which is just about the farthest place I could be, then watching that life-changing experience…It was just the cherry on top to do that (complete game). I get emotional just thinking about it. The day after she was born — my little Easter baby.”

Chris Young and Gerardo Parra homered for Arizona, which snapped a four-game skid. Xavier Nady had an RBI single.

Cliff Lee (2-2) gave up four runs on five hits over seven innings to take the loss. He also struck out 12 and walked one for the Phillies, who saw a season- best five-game winning streak come to an end.

I was locating the ball well, mixing speeds, they ambushed a couple of first pitches and hit homers, considering how Kennedy pitched, that was the game.

“I was locating the ball well, mixing speeds, they ambushed a couple of first pitches and hit homers, considering how Kennedy pitched, that was the game,” Lee said.

Kennedy got into a groove after giving up a one-out double to Placido Polanco in the first inning. The right-hander retired nine straight before giving up an infield single to Jimmy Rollins with one out in the fourth.

Arizona scored all the runs they would need in the third. Ryan Roberts led off with a single and crossed the plate on Young’s homer to center.

Parra’s homer to left in the fifth made it a 3-0 game.

Philadelphia’s last hit came in the sixth. With two outs, Polanco singled to center. Polanco advanced to second on a balk by Kennedy, but Rollins grounded out.

The Diamondbacks tacked on a run in the home sixth for a 4-0 margin. Justin Upton worked a one-out walk, stole second and scored on Nady’s base hit.

Kennedy retired the final 10 batters in order.

Game Notes

Philadelphia took four of six matchups from the Diamondbacks last year…The Phillies had won six in a row on the road…Michael Stutes, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, pitched a perfect eighth for Philadelphia in his MLB debut…At 15-7 in April, the Phillies are two victories shy of tying the club mark for wins in the month (17 in 1993)..Arizona third baseman Melvin Mora (sore/swollen left foot) missed the game…The Diamondbacks selected the contract of infielder Josh Wilson from Triple-A Reno and placed infielder Willie Bloomquist on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.

©2011 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

PHOENIX (AP) – The Arizona Diamondbacks have put utility infielder Willie Bloomquist on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.

The move was announced Monday and is retroactive to last Friday.
Bloomquist, hitting .306 in 14 games with Arizona, sat out the weekend series in New York when the Diamondbacks were swept in
three games by the Mets.

Arizona selected the contract of 30-year-old infielder Josh Wilson from Triple-A Reno. He was batting .351 with a home run and 12 RBIs in 16 games with the Aces. It’s his second stint with Arizona. He played 11 games with the Diamondbacks in 2009.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

One bright spot in the Diamondbacks’ otherwise murky season has dimmed.

Willie Bloomquist, who has been a revelation in left field, has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 22, because of a strained right hamstring.

Bloomquist suffered the injury while running out a fly ball against the Reds on Thursday. He hasn’t played since.

“We thought he was making progress but we did an MRI exam (Monday), and it showed . . . something that is certainly going to take more time,” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. “His game is speed and going all-out. He wasn’t going to be able to do that.”

Bloomquist said he has a minor tear in his right hamstring and it just wasn’t getting any better.

“It’s one of those things where it’s not fair to our team to have someone that’s not capable of doing what I’m normally capable of doing sitting on the bench,” Bloomquist said. “It hurts our chances to put a guy in late in the game when we’d have to burn two spots if I just went up to hit and couldn’t really run.”

Bloomquist is hitting .306 with 11 runs scored, a home run and seven RBIs in 14 games. He also has seven stolen bases.

The Diamondbacks called up infielder Josh Wilson from Triple-A Reno to fill Bloomquist’s spot on the active roster.

Wilson, 30, hit .351 with 11 runs scored, five doubles, two triples, a home run and 12 RBIs in 16 games with Reno.

Wilson ready

Over parts of four seasons, Wilson has been with five teams but said this is the first time he’s had a second go-around in the majors with the same team. Wilson said he’s ready for anything.

“I expect they’ll let me play wherever they need me, which I suspect is all over the infield and who knows where else,” Wilson said.

“It may even be a stint on the mound.”

Wilson said he has had four appearances as a pitcher. He said the last was in 2009 when he was with the Padres and he gave up the game-winning hit to Mark Reynolds.

Short hops

- Even with Bloomquist out, Gibson said Melvin Mora (left foot) isn’t ready to start. Mora pinch-hit in the ninth inning of Sunday’s loss against the Mets, grounding out. “(Mora’s left foot) is on and off, actually,” Gibson said. “After (Sunday’s game), he had a bit of soreness.”

- Gibson said pitchers Zach Duke (left hand) and Aaron Heilman (right shoulder) will throw bullpen sessions Tuesday. Both played catch in the outfield before Monday’s game. Gibson said Heilman will be back sooner than Duke, likely toward the end of May.

Republic reporter Bob McManaman contributed to this article.