MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brandon Pfaadt tied an Arizona franchise record by striking out seven straight batters to highlight his dominating performance as the Diamondbacks boosted their playoff hopes by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Thursday night.
The Diamondbacks remain tied for second place in the NL wild-card standings with the New York Mets, who beat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-6 on Thursday. They're both two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves.
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Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte hits an RBI single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez hits a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy watches from the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Aaron Ashby throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee was playing one night after clinching its third NL Central title in four years.
Pfaadt (10-9) collected a career-high 12 strikeouts while allowing just one run and two hits in seven innings. It was a remarkable turnaround for Pfaadt, who had given up eight runs over 1 2/3 innings in a 15-8 loss to the Brewers just five nights earlier.
Pavin Smith hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning for the Diamondbacks.
Milwaukee’s lone run came on Garrett Mitchell’s two-out homer in the seventh. Pfaadt allowed only one other baserunner, when he gave up Brice Turang's leadoff single in the fourth.
Turang moved up to second when Jackson Chourio grounded out, then Pfaadt struck out Milwaukee's next seven hitters.
The only other Diamondbacks to strike out seven straight batters within a single game are Hall of Famer Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. Johnson accomplished that feat three times and Schilling did it once during the Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Series championship season.
A.J. Puk and Justin Martínez worked the final two innings to complete the two-hitter.
The Diamondbacks broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning by scoring three runs off only one hit.
After Gabriel Moreno and Geraldo Perdomo walked to start the inning, Corbin Carroll hit a ball that got past third baseman Andruw Monasterio and went into left field. Moreno scored, Perdomo advanced to second and Carroll reached first on the play, which was ruled as a fielder’s choice with an error on Monasterio.
Ketel Marte followed by ripping a 3-0 pitch off the top of the right-field wall for an RBI single that knocked Brewers starter Tobias Myers out of the game. Perdomo scored on Christian Walker's sacrifice fly that right fielder Sal Frelick caught in front of the wall.
Myers (8-6) allowed three runs — one earned — and four hits in four innings. He struck out five and walked three.
With their division title wrapped up, the Brewers rested shortstop Willy Adames for the first time this season. Adames had started each of Milwaukee’s first 152 games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks manager Torey Luvullo said there's a possibility that OF Lourdes Gurriel could be activated from the injured list in time to play in this series. Gurriel has been dealing with a calf issue and last played for the Diamondbacks on Sept. 1.
UP NEXT
RHP Zac Gallen (12-6, 3.61 ERA) pitches for the Diamondbacks and RHP Colin Rea (12-5, 4.14) starts for the Brewers on Friday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte hits an RBI single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez hits a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy watches from the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Aaron Ashby throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
PERTH, Australia (AP) — Pakistan achieved its first win over Australia in a 50-overs series in Australia since 2002 when it won the deciding third one-day international Sunday by eight wickets.
Australia’s under-strength batting lineup folded in the face of hostile bowling from Pakistan’s pace attack and was all out for 140 in 31.5 overs.
The home team was without captain Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Marnus Labuschagne, all of whom were rested to prepare for the first of five tests against India that begins in Perth on. Nov. 22.
Saim Ayub (42) and Abdullah Shafique (37) then gave Pakistan’s chase a solid foundation in an 84-run opening partnership before both fell in the same over, bowled by Lance Morris.
That left Babar Azam and captain Mohammad Rizwan to steer Pakistan to an important victory. The pair put on a further 58 for the third wicket before Babar ended the chase in the 27th over when he hit Adam Zampa for four to take Pakistan to 143-2.
Pakistan won with 139 balls to spare.
“This is a special moment for me because we know our nation will be happy,” Rizwan said. “They don't always get what they expect from us as a team. Today we are happy as a team because our nation will be happy.”
The Pakistan pacemen have dominated the series since Australia won the opening match by two wickets in Melbourne. Pakistan leveled the series when it won the second match by nine wickets in Adelaide when Australia was bowled out for 163 with Haris Rauf taking 5-29.
As a result, Rizwan had no hesitation in choosing to bowl when the he won the toss Sunday. Naseem Shah dismissed Jake Fraser-McGurk in the fourth over, Rauf dismissed Aaron Hardie in the seventh and Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Aidan Hardie in the 11th and from there Australian wickets fell at regular intervals.
Shaheen finished with 3-32, Naseem took 3-34 and Rauf took 2-24 from seven overs as Australia was bowled out for its lowest total at home in a decade.
The Australia batters looked particularly vulnerable against the short ball on a lively pitch and allrounder Cooper Connolly retired hurt on 7 after being struck in the hand by Mohammad Hasnain.
Fraser-McGurk and Short struggled for form in the first two matches, sharing partnerships of 19 in the first match and 21 in the second. They started positively this time, taking 12 runs from the first over but were separated with the total on 20 when Fraser-McGurk was caught at second slip by Rizwan from Naseem’s bowling.
Hardie reached 12 from 13 balls when he also edged to second slip from Shaheen, who caused a ball to nip away off the seam.
Josh Inglis captained Australia for the first time in his home town and came to the crease after learning he had been included in Australia’s 13-man squad for the first test against India. His celebrations were cut short when he skied an attempted pull off Naseem to Rizwan when on 7.
“It's disappointing. We just didn't get enough runs on the board,” Inglis said.
Short grafted his way to 22 from 30 balls and then picked out square leg from Rauf’s bowling when Australia was 72-4. Connolly retired hurt with the total on 79 and Glenn Maxwell also fell to Rauf on that total for a duck.
The rest followed in procession but for Sean Abbott who made a defiant 30 from 41 balls and had support from Spencer Johnson who finished 12 not out.
Sunday's win was a major confidence boost to Pakistan as it prepares to host the ICC Champions Trophy tournament early next year.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Pakistan's not out batters Mohammad Rizwan, left, and Babar Azam smile after their win in their one day international cricket match against Australia in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Pakistan's players celebrate after their win in their one day international cricket match against Australia in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Australia's Sean Abbott bats against Pakistan during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Australia's Cooper Connolly, right, walks off as he retires hurt during their one day international cricket match against Pakistan in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Pakistan's Naseem Shah, right, is congratulated by teammate Salman Ali Agha after taking the wicket of Australia's Jake Fraser-McGurk during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi bowls to Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi tumbles over the boundary while fielding against Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Australia's Cooper Connolly, second right, walks off as he retires hurt during their one day international cricket match against Pakistan in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Australia's Marcus Stoinis avoids a high delivery from Pakistan during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, right, and Salman Ali Agha celebrate the wicket of Australia's Marcus Stoinis, left, during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Pakistan's Saim Ayub Alyson the ground after a failed catches attempt against Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Australia's Adam Zampa throws his head back after he is caught out by Pakistan during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi prepares to bowl to Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Pakistan's batting partners Saim Ayub, left, and Abdullah Shafique touch bats between deliveries from Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Pakistan's Saim Ayub bats against Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Pakistan's Saim Ayub falls over while batting against Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Australia's Adam Zampa kneels after dropping a catch against Pakistan during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Pakistan's Saim Ayub, second right, calls for assistance after he was struck by a ball during their one day international cricket match against Australia in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
Australia's Glenn Maxwell plays a shot during the second one day international cricket match between Australia and Pakistan in Adelaide, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
Pakistan's Hasan Ali, right, celebrates the wicket of Australia's Glenn Maxwell during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
