Backup catcher goes off on Pirates

Associated Press

PHOENIX

Chris Herrmann drove in four runs with a home run and double, Rubby De La Rosa gave up three hits over six-plus innings, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1 on Saturday night.

Herrmann, the backup catcher who was 1 for 20 at the plate entering the game, doubled in a run in the second and hit a three-run homer off A.J. Schugel in Arizona’s five-run eighth. The four RBIs tied Herrmann’s career high.

De La Rosa (2-3), whose previous two appearances were out of the bullpen, didn’t allow a hit after Sean Rodriguez’s home run with two outs in the second inning until Gregory Polanco’s infield single to start the seventh.

David Peralta homered for the second straight night, a solo shot off Juan Nicasio (2-2), to put the Diamondbacks up 2-1 in the third. Nicasio gave up two runs on just three hits in six innings.

The Diamondbacks won for the sixth time in seven games and evened the three-game weekend series. The Pirates are 2-3 halfway through a 10-game road trip.

Rodriguez’s third home run of the season, and second in two nights, was an opposite-field shot to right with two outs in the second.

Arizona tied it at 1-1 in the second when Herrmann lined a double to the right-field fence, scoring Nick Ahmed from first. Third baseman David Freese’s fielding error allowed one of the Arizona runs to score in the eighth.

GREINKE

Before the game, Arizona’s Zack Greinke was presented the Players Choice Award for outstanding pitcher in the National League last year.

The award is determined by vote of NL players. Greinke went 19-3 with a 1.66 ERA with the Dodgers last season.

ROSTER MOVE

Before the game, the Diamondbacks recalled right-handed reliever Enrique Burjos from Triple-A Reno and optioned right-hander Silvino Bracho to Reno.

Burjos had not allowed a run in five appearances for the Aces. He pitched the ninth for Arizona Saturday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: INF Jung Ho Kang was 0 for 11 through Thursday in his rehab appearances for Triple-A Indianapolis. He is recovering from knee surgery.

UP NEXT

Pirates: LHP Francisco Lariano (1-1, 4.11 ERA) makes his second start on Sunday since skipping one due to right hamstring discomfort.

Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray (1-0, 1.96) tries to continue his strong start to the season when the Diamondbacks and Pirates conclude their three-game series.

LEADERS

National League

BATTING — DMurphy, Washington, .411; Yelich, Miami, .400; Fowler, Chicago, .385; Jaso, Pittsburgh, .361; Braun, Milwaukee, .355; AGonzalez, Los Angeles, .352; Segura, Arizona, .346.

RUNS — Fowler, Chicago, 17; Arenado, Colorado, 15; Harper, Washington, 14; Pagan, San Francisco, 14; Story, Colorado, 14; Suarez, Cincinnati, 14; Bryant, Chicago, 13; Gennett, Milwaukee, 13; Grichuk, St. Louis, 13.

RBI — Harper, Washington, 22; Arenado, Colorado, 17; Rizzo, Chicago, 17; Bruce, Cincinnati, 15; Bryant, Chicago, 15; Carter, Milwaukee, 15; 5 tied at 14.

HITS — Segura, Arizona, 27; Fowler, Chicago, 25; AGonzalez, Los Angeles, 25; CGonzalez, Colorado, 23; Harrison, Pittsburgh, 23; DMurphy, Washington, 23; Braun, Milwaukee, 22; Jaso, Pittsburgh, 22; SMarte, Pittsburgh, 22.

DOUBLES — Fowler, Chicago, 9; Markakis, Atlanta, 9; SMarte, Pittsburgh, 8; Carter, Milwaukee, 7; Lamb, Arizona, 7; DWright, New York, 7; Yelich, Miami, 7.

TRIPLES — DGordon, Miami, 2; DMurphy, Washington, 2; DPeralta, Arizona, 2; Puig, Los Angeles, 2; Segura, Arizona, 2; Story, Colorado, 2; Utley, Los Angeles, 2.

HOME RUNS — Harper, Washington, 8; Story, Colorado, 8; Arenado, Colorado, 7; NWalker, New York, 7; Rizzo, Chicago, 6; 6 tied at 5.

STOLEN BASES — SMarte, Pittsburgh, 5; Upton Jr, San Diego, 5; DGordon, Miami, 4; Harrison, Pittsburgh, 4