Dose of Venom: Montero’s clutch hit highlights Diamondbacks’ comeback win over Tigers

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks (44-57) demonstrated resiliency and toughness late to even their series with the Detroit Tigers following a 4-3 victory Tuesday night at Chase Field.

Miguel Montero’s bases-loaded single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth drove in two runs, allowing the Snakes to regain the lead after reliever Brad Ziegler got roughed up in the top half of the inning.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus elected to bring in southpaw Ian Krol — the third pitcher of the inning — to face Montero in a key spot. After fooling the Diamondbacks left-handed hitter on the first two pitches and getting ahead 0-2 in the count, Montero attacked a low fastball and sent it to the outfield.

“I’m not going to strike out looking, so I had to be ready to swing. Lucky enough, I got the base hit through the middle,” Montero said after the win.

Arizona closer Addison Reed looked even more impressive by converting his fourth straight save. Reed stared down the top of Detroit’s lineup in Austin Jackson, Ian Kinsler, and Miguel Cabrera — all of whom had registered multiple hits already in the game. Reed retired Jackson and Kinsler on softly-hit fly outs before pitching around the always dangerous reigning two-time MVP.

Don Kelly, who entered the game late as a pinch runner for Victor Martinez, stayed in to face Reed. Kelly slapped the first pitch he saw deep in the hole between first and second base, but Aaron Hill stretched out, rolled over and made an incredibly difficult throw from right field to Paul Goldschmidt’s glove to end the game.

“He went right through them [top of Detroit’s lineup]. Let’s write about that tonight,” manager Kirk Gibson said about Reed.

Hill also made a big contribution with his bat, as he homered to left field in the first inning off Rick Porcello (12-5, 3.42 ERA) to even the score at 1-1.

Despite getting a no-decision, Porcello was efficient as ever for Detroit (55-42). He threw 77 pitches over seven innings — 55 for strikes. He surrendered only five hits and three earned runs.

Diamondbacks starter Chase Anderson (6-4, 3.58 ERA) kept his cool and showed no signs of rust following a long gap between outings. The young righty also recorded a no-decision after pitching six innings and scattering two runs and five hits.

Eury De La Rosa earned his second win of the season by preventing the floodgates from opening in the top of the eighth inning. He relieved Ziegler, who had a rough outing and left the 24-year-old left-hander to deal with runners on second and third with only one out.

Facing a one-run deficit, De La Rosa struck out Alex Avila and, after the bases were intentionally loaded, Rajai Davis took a called strike three and the Diamondbacks were out of the inning. Gibson forced Ausmus to make a move by intentionally walking the bases loaded and bringing up the pitcher’s spot in that situation.

“That’s big for that kid. I know I put a lot on him, but that’s what you got to do to beat a team like the Tigers,” Gibson said of De La Rosa’s performance.

Another bright spot for Arizona was leadoff hitter David Peralta. The rookie tripled twice, walked once, and scored three runs in his team’s winning effort. He leads the team in batting average at .329 in 149 at-bats.

THE GOOD

Reed has converted four consecutive saves without allowing a hit.

Anderson showed no rust from a long break between appearances, as he kept his team in the game and recorded a quality start against a very talented Detroit lineup. Anderson last pitched July 7 against Miami, when he threw six innings and snapped a personal four-game losing streak in a 9-1 victory.

THE BAD

Ziegler struggled in the eighth inning, surrendering Arizona’s 3-2 lead as he allowed two earned runs on four hits while recording only one out.

HE SAID IT

“I just think it sets our lineup the best right now with him at the top…and I like having a left-handed bat to start. He puts pressure on the opponent, runs the bases hard and I want to give him an extra at-bat,” Gibson said before the game about giving Peralta the everyday leadoff role.

STAT OF THE GAME

The Diamondbacks’ win Tuesday marks their 21st come-from-behind victory of the season.

NOTED

– Peralta’s outing marks the sixth time in franchise history a Diamondback has tripled twice in the same game. The last time it happened was when Montero did it Sept. 26, 2010 in a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

– Hill’s homer in the first inning extended his hitting streak to seven games.

UP NEXT

With the series tied at one game apiece, Trevor Cahill (1-6, 5.63 ERA) hopes to solidify his spot in the D-backs’ rotation as he faces Detroit in the rubber game of the series. He can certainly make a tremendous impression as he duels another right-handed pitcher in Anibal Sanchez (6-4, 3.22 ERA). Catch the early game on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM at 12:40 p.m. with the Diamondbacks pregame show beginning at 12:10 p.m.