Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Chase Anderson works against a San Diego Padres batter during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 28, 2015, in San Diego.
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Saying “there were a lot of special moments created here”, Randy Johnson thanked fans, teammates, front office personnel, even the clubhouse guys when the Arizona Diamondbacks retired his No. 51 on Saturday night. Sampson earned his first big league win as the Reds claimed a 4-1 victory. Brandon Phillips, Marlon Byrd, and Eugenio Suarez each hit home runs as the Reds scored four runs on eight hits. His last two starts have been particularly brilliant, as the 25-year-old has only given up three runs on seven hits and three walks, while striking out 11 in 12.2 innings. He struck out a career-best nine without issuing a walk in his last turn and has issued just five free passes over his last four outings. Goldschmidt grounded into a double play to end the fifth.
Reds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (7-7, 3.71 ERA) goes for his third consecutive win in the series finale Sunday. Phillips lined a 3-2 pitch just over the wall in left field to make it 3-1. Suarez hit a two-run homer in the fourth, and Phillips added a solo shot in the fifth. In the fourth, Sampson escaped the jam with consecutive flyouts to right by Aaron Hill and Nick Ahmed.
He joins former teammate Luis Gonzalez as the only Arizona players to have their number retired by the franchise.
When the ceremony ended, he stood on the mound and waved to the crowd of 40,512. Johnson is good friends with the band’s members.
The right-hander won’t face infielder Cliff Pennington, who was traded to Toronto for minor league shortstop Dawel Lugo prior to Saturday’s contest.
On Friday night, Arizona traded left-handed reliever Oliver Perez to the Houston Astros for minor league lefty Junior Garcia.
Although this year may not be the time for the Diamondbacks to double their World Series championship total, they’re still plenty of past players to celebrate as well as some studs on the current roster.
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Corbin completed at least five innings in each of his first five starts – and yielded two or fewer runs in four of them – since returning July 4 from elbow surgery.
