Mark Reynolds hits 40th homer, Jon Garland pitches Diamondbacks to 9-0 rout of Astros

Reynolds hits 40th homer, Diamondbacks rout Astros

PHOENIX — Mark Reynolds hit his 40th homer, Jon Garland threw seven sharp innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks routed the Houston Astros 9-0 on Saturday night.

With his two-run shot in the third inning, Reynolds became the second Diamondbacks player in the franchise’s 12-year history to homer 40 times in a season. The first was Luis Gonzalez, honored in a pregame ceremony after announcing his retirement following 19 big league seasons.

Garland (8-11) was masterful, giving up only five hits and a walk. He struck out five and did not let a runner reach third.

Justin Upton had three hits, including his 21st homer, and Miguel Montero had a three-run double for the Diamondbacks, who have scored 34 runs in their last three games.

Arizona roughed up Houston starter Bud Norris (3-3) for the second time in six days.

Last Sunday, Norris lasted one inning against the Diamondbacks, giving up six runs on six hits and three walks.

This time, he went five innings, allowing six runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out three.

Norris handed the Diamondbacks their first run in the second inning.

With runners on second and third and two outs, manager Cecil Cooper ordered an intentional walk to No. 8 hitter Brandon Allen. Norris uncorked the first pitch to the backstop, allowing Montero to score from third.

Arizona led 3-0 in the third when Reynolds hit an 0-1 pitch just inside the left-field foul pole and into the first row of the second deck — an estimated 439 feet.

Two innings later, Upton led off with a homer to left to put the Diamondbacks up 6-0.

That was plenty of cushion for Garland, who won back-to-back starts for the first time since last September. He won for only the fourth time since May 19.

NOTES: Arizona RHP Dan Haren (12-8, 2.73 ERA) will face Houston LHP Wandy Rodriguez (12-8, 2.82) in Sunday’s series finale. … Gonzalez will join Arizona’s front office as an assistant to president and CEO Derrick Hall. … Houston RHP Roy Oswalt turned 32. … Chris Young, recalled from Triple-A Reno on Saturday, went 0 for 3, extending his slump with the Diamondbacks to 2 for 30.