PHOENIX, June 20 (UPI) -- A two-run homer by Tony Batista in the top of the first inning Wednesday night got Baltimore off to a good start, and Chris Brock tossed three scoreless innings in relief as the Orioles beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-1, and handed Curt Schilling consecutive defeats for
the first time in nearly a year.
Schilling (12-3), who was making his second attempt at becoming the first 13-game winner in the major leagues, had not lost back-to-back starts since early July 2001.
But in the opening frame, Schilling allowed a one-out walk to Melvin Mora, and after striking out Chris Singleton, Batista rapped his 2-2 offering 390 feet over the wall in left field. It was Batista's 17th home run of the season.
After the Diamondbacks loaded the bases with none out against Orioles starter Sidney Ponson, Steve Finley hit a line drive off of the pitcher's right wrist, plating Luis Gonzalez. Ponson suffered a contusion on his wrist, but X-rays administered at the stadium were negative, and he is listed as day-to-day.
Brock (1-0) replaced Ponson and got out of the jam. Brock pitched three innings of one-hit, scoreless relief to earn the victory.
An RBI single by Geronimo Gil in the fifth made it 3-1 before the Orioles added three runs off Schilling an inning later. Gary Matthews Jr. had a two-run triple and Ryan McGuire a run-scoring double in the frame, which began with Mora striking out but reaching first when Schilling's wild pitch eluded catcher Damian
Miller and reached the backstop.
