The Arizona Diamondbacks hit three home runs off three different pitchers to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 Friday night at Busch Stadium.
The loss puts St. Louis one game below the .500 mark at 44-45 and three games behind the first place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central.
It was a night full of promise as emergency starter Daniel Ponce de Leon allowed just one run in 6 2/3 innings, with no walks and seven strikeouts.
He got the ball after the team announced scheduled starter Adam Wainwright had to be scratched due to back spasms.
But when Manager Mike Schildt came to the mound to the get the ball from Ponce de Leon in a 1-1 game, disaster loomed.
Reliever Andrew Miller was greeted by a home run to right off the bat of Jake Lamb, putting Arizona on top 2-1.
It was the only batter Miller (3-4) would face on the night.
The Diamondbacks picked up some insurance when Ketel Marte clubbed a two run homer in the eighth, putting Arizona ahead 4-1.
Paul DeJong’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth pulled the Cards within two, 4-2, but Goldschmidt grounded out to end the inning with the potential tying runs on base.
Arizona starter Robbie Ray (7-6) was tough, giving up just one run on two hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out eight hitters, allowing only a home run to catcher Matt Wieters in the fifth.
Former Cardinal Greg Holland worked around a two out walk in the ninth to earn his 15th save.
Rookie Dakota Hudson (7-4, 3.51 ERA) takes the mound for St. Louis Saturday night against Arizona’s Merrill Kelly (7-8, 4.03 ERA).
First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m.
