MILWAUKEE — Aaron Hill hit for the cycle for the second time in 12 days and Ian Kennedy pitched seven strong innings, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 9-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ second baseman also singled, doubled, tripled and homered June 18 against Seattle.
Brooklyn’s Babe Herman is the only other major leaguer to hit for two cycles in one season since 1900, according to STATS LLC. He accomplished the feat in 1931.
On Friday night, Hill doubled for his 1,000th hit in the first, singled in the third and hit his 11th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth. All those hits came off Milwaukee starter Randy Wolf (2-6).
Hill tripled in the sixth off Livan Hernandez. His head-first slide into third easily beat the relay throw from the outfield.
Paul Goldschmidt came close to hitting for the cycle, too. He doubled, homered, singled and walked before a fan interfered with his hard grounder down the left field line in the ninth. Goldschmidt more than likely would not have made third even without the spectator’s glove deflecting the ball.
Kennedy (6-7) allowed a run in the first, but then kept Milwaukee from scoring again until the sixth when he created his own jam that led to two unearned runs.
Rickie Weeks tapped back to the mound and Kennedy’s wide throw pulled the first baseman off the bag for an error. After he walked George Kottaras, Cesar Izturis doubled off the wall in deep right-center.
PIRATES 14, CARDINALS 5
Clint Barmes, pinch-hitter Alex Presley and Garrett Jones each homered in a four-run sixth inning that snapped a tie, and visiting Pittsburgh beat St. Louis. Andrew McCutchen had four of the Pirates’ season high 19 hits.
MARLINS 6, PHILLIES 2
Josh Johnson pitched six strong innings to help host Miami win consecutive games for the first time in nearly a month and keep Cliff Lee (Benton, Arkansas Razorbacks) winless with a victory over Philadelphia. Lee (0-5) allowed 6 runs in 4 2/3 innings.
NATIONALS 5, BRAVES 4
Michael Morse had four hits, including the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, and the Nationals beat host Atlanta.
ROCKIES 10, PADRES 2
Jeff Francis pitched six scoreless innings to become the first Rockies starter to win a game since June 4 and host Colorado routed San Diego.
CUBS 4, ASTROS 0
Paul Maholm pitched into the ninth inning to earn his first victory since May 9 and the Chicago Cubs hit three home runs against visiting Houston.
American League WHITE SOX 14, YANKEES 7
A.J. Pierzynski homered twice, Paul Konerko and Alexei Ramirez also connected and the Chicago White Sox pounded the Yankees so hard that host New York brought in outfielder Dewayne Wise to pitch. Wise retired Konerko and Alex Rios in order to close a four-run ninth inning.
RAYS 4, TIGERS 2
Desmond Jennings homered twice and David Price out pitched Justin Verlander to become the AL’s first 11-game winner for host Tampa Bay.
BLUE JAYS 7, ANGELS 5
Adam Lind hit two home runs and Yunel Escobar had a tie breaking double in the seventh inning as host Toronto beat Los Angeles.
ROYALS 4, TWINS 3
Luis Mendoza allowed one run over a career-high eight innings and Salvador Perez homered as visiting Kansas City won its fourth consecutive game.
RANGERS 4, ATHLETICS 3
Craig Gentry (Fort Smith, Razorbacks) hit a bases-loaded triple in the eighth that capped a four-run rally and Matt Harrison pitched eight innings to win his 11th game, lifting host Texas past Oakland.
ORIOLES 9, INDIANS 8
Ryan Flaherty singled in the tie breaking run in the seventh inning, Matt Wieters hit a three-run home run and Baltimore earned a victory over visiting Cleveland.
Friday’s games NATIONAL LEAGUE Chicago Cubs 4, Houston 0 Miami 6, Philadelphia 2 Washington 5, Atlanta 4 Arizona 9, Milwaukee 3 Colorado 10, San Diego 2 Pittsburgh 14, St. Louis 5 NY Mets at LA Dodgers, (n) Cincinnati at San Francisco, (n) AMERICAN LEAGUE Chicago White Sox 14, NY Yankees 7 Baltimore 9, Cleveland 8 Toronto 7, LA Angels 5 Tampa Bay 4, Detroit 2 Texas 4, Oakland 3 Kansas City 4, Minnesota 3 Boston at Seattle, (n)
Sports, Pages 25 on 06/30/2012