PHOENIX -- Six years ago, at about this time of year, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected A.J. Pollock out of Notre Dame in the first round of the draft, the 17th player chosen overall.
The do-everything center fielder keeps showing how much he was worth it.
Pollock hit a two-out, two-run home run into the Chase Field swimming pool in the seventh inning and the Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves 7-6 in a back-and-forth game Tuesday night.
"I just made a bad pitch and he crushed it," Atlanta reliever Brandon Cunniff said.
The homer was the 51st splashdown in the water beyond the right field fence since the ballpark opened in 1998. Pollock is hitting .314 while playing terrific defense.
"Definitely All-Star caliber," teammate and two-time All-Star Paul Goldschmidt said. "He does it all."
Ender Inciarte had two RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases for the Diamondbacks. He drew a two-out walk from Cunniff (2-1) and scored on Pollock's home run.
With the speedy Inciarte to worry about, Cunniff may have been a bit distracted, Pollock thought.
"I'm sure that had a little bit of a part of it," he said. "I just got a pitch middle away. I was just trying to hit it in the gap and watch Ender run and hopefully get that tying run in and I'm fortunate it went over the fence."
A.J. Pierzynski and Todd Cunningham each drove in a pair of runs in the Braves' five-run sixth inning after the Diamondbacks had taken a 4-1 lead off Shelby Miller.
Miller lasted a season-low 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with six walks and one strikeout.
"Shelby struggled for the first time the whole year," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He was battling his mechanics a little bit. His command was not like we have seen it before, but never the less we had a chance to win the ball game."
The four runs and six walks were season worsts for the right-hander, who had not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his 10 starts leading into Tuesday.
"I didn't get in the groove-type thing, but those kind of days happen," Miller said. "You are still human."
Andrew Chafin (3-0) pitched 1 1/3 inning to get the victory. Brad Ziegler threw a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.
Arizona starter Josh Collmenter left with two outs in the sixth inning and the Braves broke out.
Pierzynsky's two-run bases-loaded single off J.C. Ramirez cut the lead to 4-3, Jonny Gomes' RBI double tied it, then Cunningham's double down the left field line on the first pitch from Chafin put Atlanta up 6-4.
Miller walked Collmenter to load the bases in the second, then Inciarte singled in two. Miller walked Goldschmidt to bring in the third run.
"This game is not made for excuses and there is no reason to go out there and walk six batters," Miller said. "There is no reason to go out there and walk the pitcher. It is just a tough day."
Goldschmidt walked four times, twice intentionally. He has been walked 41 times this season, 17 in the last 13 games.
GREAT CATCH
In the third, the left fielder Inciarte made a head-first dive in the gravel in foul territory and caught Jace Peterson's foul ball. Inciarte crashed face-first into a security guard's foot. He remained on the ground but held up his glove to show he still had the ball. After trainers came out, Inciarte eventually got to his feet and stayed in the game, making another nice running catch of Freeman's fly ball to end the inning.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: Gonzalez gave OF Cameron Maybin another day off. Maybin was scratched from the lineup just before Monday night's game with a sore quad/groin. Gonzalez said he expected Maybin in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale.
Diamondbacks: LH Patrick Corbin (Tommy John surgery) threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in an extended spring training game on Monday. ... 3B Jake Lamb (left foot stress fracture) was 1 for 4 with a triple in extended spring training game Monday. He is report Wednesday to a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno.
UP NEXT
Braves: Mike Foltynewicz (3-2, 3.96 ERA) takes the mound against Arizona Wednesday in the Braves' finale of a 10-game road trip. Atlanta is 4-5 on the trip.
Diamondbacks: RH Rubby De La Rosa (4-2, 4.50) goes for Arizona in the afternoon contest. He is 2-0 in his last five starts.




Final
Series: Game 2 of 3

Braves 6

(26-26, 14-16 away)

Diamondbacks 7

(24-27, 12-14 home)






9:40PM,EDT,June 2,2015
Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona 

123456789 R H E
ATL 100005000 6 10 0
ARI 03010120 - 7 9 0
W: A. Chafin (3-0)
L: B. Cunniff (2-1)
S: B. Ziegler (4)
 
 
 
 
 
View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-PitchInning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Atlanta - Top of 1stSCORE
Josh Collmenter pitching for ArizonaATLARI
Peterson bunt grounded out to shortstop.00
A. Simmons grounded out to first.00
Freeman singled to center.00
Freeman stole second.00
Markakis doubled to right, Freeman scored.10
Uribe struck out looking.10
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Arizona - Bottom of 1stSCORE
Shelby Miller pitching for AtlantaATLARI
Inciarte grounded out to third.10
Pollock grounded out to shortstop.10
Goldschmidt walked.10
Trumbo struck out swinging.10
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Atlanta - Top of 2ndSCORE
Josh Collmenter pitching for ArizonaATLARI
Pierzynski flied out to center.10
Gomes struck out looking.10
Cunningham singled to center.10
Miller grounded out to third.10
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Arizona - Bottom of 2ndSCORE
Shelby Miller pitching for AtlantaATLARI
Tomás flied out to center.10
Pacheco reached on infield single to third.10
Owings walked, Pacheco to second.10
Ahmed grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Owings out at second, Pacheco to third.10
Collmenter walked, Ahmed to second.10
Inciarte singled to right, Pacheco and Ahmed scored, Collmenter to second.12
Pollock reached on infield single to shortstop, Collmenter to third, Inciarte to second.12
Goldschmidt walked, Collmenter scored, Inciarte to third, Pollock to second.13
Trumbo flied out to center.13
3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors
Atlanta - Top of 3rdSCORE
Josh Collmenter pitching for ArizonaATLARI
Peterson fouled out to left.13
A. Simmons flied out to right.13
Freeman lined out to left.13
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Arizona - Bottom of 3rdSCORE
Shelby Miller pitching for AtlantaATLARI
Tomás singled to center.13
Pacheco grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Tomás out at second.13
Owings grounded out to shortstop.13
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Atlanta - Top of 4thSCORE
Josh Collmenter pitching for ArizonaATLARI
Markakis grounded out to shortstop.13
Uribe singled to center.13
Pierzynski grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Uribe out at second.13
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Arizona - Bottom of 4thSCORE
Shelby Miller pitching for AtlantaATLARI
Ahmed walked.13
Collmenter sacrificed to first, Ahmed to second.13
Inciarte grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Ahmed to third.13
Inciarte stole second.13
Pollock grounded out to shortstop, Ahmed scored.14
Goldschmidt intentionally walked.14
Trumbo fouled out to right.14
1 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Atlanta - Top of 5thSCORE
Josh Collmenter pitching for ArizonaATLARI
Gomes struck out swinging.14
Cunningham grounded out to shortstop.14
Miller popped out to first.14
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Arizona - Bottom of 5thSCORE
Shelby Miller pitching for AtlantaATLARI
Tomás struck out swinging.14
Pacheco singled to right.14
Owings singled to center, Pacheco to second.14
Martin relieved Miller.14
Pacheco to third, Owings to second on wild pitch by Martin.14
Ahmed grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Pacheco out at home.14
Collmenter grounded out to second.14
0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Atlanta - Top of 6thSCORE
Josh Collmenter pitching for ArizonaATLARI
Peterson reached on bunt single to shortstop.14
A. Simmons lined out to center.14
Freeman grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Peterson out at second.14
Markakis doubled to right, Freeman to third.14
Ramírez relieved Collmenter.14
Uribe walked.14
Pierzynski singled to right, Freeman and Markakis scored, Uribe to second.34
Gomes doubled to deep left, Uribe scored, Pierzynski to third.44
Chafin relieved Ramírez.44
Cunningham doubled to left, Pierzynski and Gomes scored.64
Ciriaco hit for Martin.64
Ciriaco struck out swinging.64
5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors
Arizona - Bottom of 6thSCORE
Nick Masset pitching for AtlantaATLARI
Masset relieved Martin.64
Inciarte walked.64
Inciarte stole second.64
Pollock struck out swinging.64
Goldschmidt intentionally walked.64
Trumbo flied out to center, Inciarte to third.64
Tomás singled to left, Inciarte scored, Goldschmidt to third.65
Cunniff relieved Masset.65
Pacheco walked, Tomás to second.65
Owings flied out to center.65
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Atlanta - Top of 7thSCORE
Andrew Chafin pitching for ArizonaATLARI
Peterson walked.65
A. Simmons grounded into fielder's choice to first, Peterson out at second.65
Freeman lined out to left.65
Markakis grounded out to shortstop.65
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Arizona - Bottom of 7thSCORE
Brandon Cunniff pitching for AtlantaATLARI
Ahmed popped out to third.65
Hill hit for Chafin.65
Hill grounded out to third.65
Inciarte walked.65
Pollock homered to right (405 feet), Inciarte scored.67
Goldschmidt doubled to center.67
Trumbo struck out swinging.67
2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Atlanta - Top of 8thSCORE
Daniel Hudson pitching for ArizonaATLARI
Hudson relieved Chafin.67
Uribe grounded out to shortstop.67
Pierzynski grounded out to pitcher.67
Gomes struck out looking.67
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Arizona - Bottom of 8thSCORE
Luis Avilan pitching for AtlantaATLARI
Avilán relieved Cunniff.67
Tomás grounded out to pitcher.67
Pacheco popped out to second.67
Owings lined out to center.67
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Atlanta - Top of 9thSCORE
Brad Ziegler pitching for ArizonaATLARI
Pennington at third base.67
Ziegler relieved Hudson.67
Cunningham singled to center.67
Young Jr. hit for Avilán.67
Young Jr. bunted into fielder's choice to pitcher, Cunningham out at second.67
Peterson grounded out to first, Young Jr. to second.67
A. Simmons grounded out to third.67
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors



Atlanta Braves
HittersABRHRBIBBSO#PAVGOBPSLG
Peterson 2B40101014.268.339.345
A. Simmons SS50000023.270.321.395
Freeman 1B42100023.296.361.497
Markakis RF41210020.299.387.361
Uribe 3B31101117.260.316.375
Pierzynski C41120012.261.307.391
Gomes LF41110319.204.273.347
Cunningham CF40320014.277.333.362
Miller P2000007.048.091.095
0000000.000.000.000
a-Ciriaco PH
1000013.179.200.321
0000000.000.000.000
0000000.000.000.000
0000000.000.000.000
b-Young Jr. PH
1000002.171.232.276
Totals36610625154   
a-struck out swinging for C Martin in the 6th
b-bunted into fielder's choice to pitcher for L Avilan in the 9th
BATTING
2B: Markakis 2 (12, Collmenter 2); Gomes (5, Ramírez); Cunningham (4, Chafin)
RBI: Markakis (14), Pierzynski 2 (19), Gomes (10), Cunningham 2 (4)
2-out RBI: Markakis, Pierzynski 2, Gomes, Cunningham 2
GIDP: Pierzynski
Braves RISP: 4-7 (A. Simmons 0-1, Markakis 1-1, Gomes 1-1, Ciriaco 0-1, Pierzynski 1-1, Cunningham 1-1, Uribe 0-1)
Team LOB: 5
BASERUNNING
SB: Freeman (2, 2nd base off Collmenter/Pacheco)
FIELDING
DP: 1 (A. Simmons-Peterson-Freeman).

Game Information

StadiumChase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Attendance17,101 (35.2% full) - % is based on regular season capacity
Game Time3:18
Weather100 degrees, clear
Wind8 mph
UmpiresHome Plate - Jim Reynolds, First Base - Manny Gonzalez, Second Base - Paul Schrieber, Third Base - Fieldin Culbreth