D-backs end spring with rout of Brewers

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ bats came alive Wednesday as
they pounded out 17 hits on their way to a 14-3 rout of
the Milwaukee Brewers at Chase Field.

It was a nice way to end the spring, and trust me, the
Diamondbacks are glad that the exhibition portion of their
schedule is behind them.

“We’re all happy to have spring training over,” manager
Kirk Gibson said. “It gets boring, whether you like it or
not.”

Willie Bloomquist went 3-for-3 with a two-run
homer and three runs scored. Bloomquist, who hit just
.206 for the spring, was just a triple shy of hitting for
the cycle.

“I talked to (Bloomquist) last night before he left and
he’s so hard on himself, he worked himself into a frenzy,”
Gibson said. “The first thing I asked him is ‘what means
more, the three weeks of spring training or your career’,
you’ve proven you can do it.”

Joe Saunders started for the Diamondbacks, going five
innings and allowing three earned runs while striking out
five. The veteran lefty was happy with his final spring
outing.

“My goal out there was really to approach it as a regular
season start,” Saunders said. “I got my arm in good shape
and had some time off and I was pretty pleased with the
results.”

The Diamondbacks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 3rd,
thanks to Bloomquist’s long ball. Milwaukee answered with
three in the fourth highlighted by a 2-run shot by Corey
Hart.

But Arizona broke the game open, posting seven runs in the
5th and tacking on three more in the 6th en route to the
victory, which pushed their spring record to 15-19.

The Diamondbacks open the 2012 campaign Friday with Ian
Kennedy on the mound against Tim Lincecum and the San
Francisco Giants.

Arizona Sports’ Charlie Feinerman contributed to this
report

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