Diamondbacks capture 3-game series at Milwaukee

Cliff Pennington doubled and Eric Hinske followed with a booming two-run homer to center field off Brewers reliever John Axford in the top of the 11th inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Milwaukee 8-7 today in Milwaukee to capture all three games of the weekend series.

The Diamondbacks (5-1) received six innings from starter Ian Kennedy and once again went to the bullpen to hold off the Brewers. Arizona banged out 14 hits in today's game, three of them from Paul Goldschmidt and another three from Aaron Hill, ending up with 36 hits in the series. The Diamondbacks now have 71 hits on the season -- a franchise record to start the season.

Leading 6-4 in the ninth inning, J.J. Putz came on to close out the game, but allowed three hits and two runs before striking out  Rickie Weeks and Alex Gonzalez to send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, Milwaukee reliever John Axford served up a couple of fastballs to Goldschmidt and Jason Kubel. Goldy's ball was caught at the warning track in left center and Kubel's blast was hit to the warning track in left. With two outs, Eric Chavez struck out for the third out.

Lefty Tony Sipp came on to pitch the bottom of the 10th for the D'backs. Sipp set the Brewers down 1-2-3, striking out two batters,  and the game headed into the 11th inning, setting up the Pennington and Hinske show.

Heath Bell came on in the bottom of the 11th and allowed a run, but the Brewers' Kyle Lohse struck out looking to end the game, giving the Diamondbacks their fifth win of the season. Arizona, at  5-1, is tied with Atlanta for the best record in baseball. If the Colorado Rockies (4-1) hold on to beat the San Diego Padres today, they will join Arizona and Atlanta. The Rockies are up 4-1 in the 7th inning.

Way to go, Diamondbacks!