It’s Miller Time for Diamondbacks

Damian Miller, hardly the heart of Arizona’s offense, had some memorable moments at the plate--not behind it--for a change.

The fourth-year catcher set a career high with his 12th homer and drove in four runs to give the Diamondbacks an 8-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday at Phoenix.

“In these crucial games it feels good to get some big hits,” Miller said.

Bobby Witt (3-1) didn’t allow a hit until Phil Nevin led off the fifth with a home run. Witt worked one more inning, allowing two runs and four hits for his second victory in three starts since returning from an elbow strain that happened April 7.

Bobby Jones (8-18) moved two losses shy of becoming the majors’ first 20-game loser since Brian Kingman of Oakland in 1980.

The Diamondbacks are 3-6 in September, but their second consecutive victory over the Padres kept them 1 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco in the NL West.

Atlanta 9, Chicago 5--B.J. Surhoff homered, doubled twice and drove in four runs as the Braves completed a three-game sweep of the slumping Cubs at Chicago.

The Cubs trail Houston by 6 1/2 games in the NL Central, and are two games behind San Francisco for the wild card.

Surhoff and Andruw Jones hit consecutive homers in the first inning off Jason Bere as Atlanta remained 3 1/2 games ahead of the Phillies in the NL East.

Sammy Sosa hit his 54th homer for Chicago.

Kerry Ligtenberg (2-3) allowed one hit in two innings of relief to earn the victory.

Houston 8, Milwaukee 0--Roy Oswalt struck out 12 in his first career shutout in leading the Astros at Houston.

Oswalt (14-2), in his 18th career start, allowed seven hits and one walk to win his sixth consecutive decision.

Jeff Bagwell, Moises Alou, Brad Ausmus and Richard Hidalgo all homered for the Astros, who homered more than once in a game for the first time since Aug. 19.

Florida 4, New York 2--Charles Johnson drove in two runs at Miami to help Juan Acevedo (1-3) win for the first time in more than a year as the Marlins ended the Mets’ winning streak at six games.

Philadelphia 12, Montreal 4--Johnny Estrada hit an RBI double to begin a six-run fifth inning and drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the burst, leading the Phillies at Montreal.

Scott Rolen had four RBIs as the Phillies scored 11 times in three innings.

Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 3--Aaron Boone hit a two-run double in the first inning to help the Reds to a victory at Pittsburgh.