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--> --> Big names pull through for D-Backs in win over Giants PHOENIX (AP) - The big names came through in one of the biggest games of the season for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Luis Gonzalez hit his 49th home run and Randy Johnson earned his 18th victory as the Diamondbacks beat the San Francisco Giants 4-1 in the opener of a critical three-game NL West series. Johnson, who tied teammate Curt Schilling for the most wins in the majors, struck out nine and allowed one run and six hits in eight innings. Johnson (18-6), who threw 128 pitches, walked three, including Barry Bonds twice. Bonds was 0-for-2. Reggie Sanders homered for the fifth time in five games as the Diamondbacks won their eighth home game in a row to boost their division lead to 3 1/2 games over San Francisco. The Giants lost for the fourth time in five games. "Reggie is red-hot right now. It doesn't matter if it's a righty or a lefty, he's seeing the ball real well and putting a good swing on it," Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. "He hit it to the biggest part of the ballpark but he's got that kind of pop. We've seen it all year, and Gonzo continues to just be Gonzo." The game was the first of six between Arizona and San Francisco over a 10-day span. "I don't think anybody needed to say how big this game was, how big this series is, how big the remainder of the games are that we have," Johnson said. "Reggie comes in and puts a few runs on the board early, then Gonzo does the same thing. You need to make those runs hold up." Johnson improved to 9-1 over his last 12 starts and beat the Giants for the first time in four tries this season. Byung-Hyun Kim pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances. The Giants gave home plate umpire Laz Diaz an assist. "Bad umpiring calls behind the plate helped Randy out quite a bit," said Jeff Kent, who struck out three times. Kent said Diaz was giving Johnson another three or four inches inside the plate. "It's frustrating for us because we're still scratching and trying to claw and trying to play the game, but there's room for improvement behind the plate, that's for sure." Sanders and Gonzalez each hit two-run homers off Livan Hernandez (11-13) to give Johnson an early 4-0 lead. Sanders' home run was his career-high 30th. As Hernandez left the mound with one out in the sixth, he argued vehemently with Diaz, who heard loud complaints from both sides all night. Hernandez continued to snipe at Diaz from the dugout and was tossed from the game, even though the pitcher already was through for the night. "I threw a lot of strikes tonight that weren't called a strike," Hernandez said. "I've never complained like that before." Hernandez allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out three and walked four. "He had pretty good stuff," manager Dusty Baker said. "He had two two-run homers off of him and that was the whole game." Mark Grace led off the second with a double, then Sanders, after unexpectedly attempting a bunt and fouling it off, hit Hernandez's 2-2 pitch 418 feet to center field to put Arizona up 2-0. The Diamondbacks made it 4-0 in the third when Craig Counsell led off with a line drive single off third baseman Pedro Feliz's glove. Gonzalez ran the count to 3-2, then hit one 412 feet over the swimming pool beyond the right-field fence. San Francisco scored in the fifth when Benito Santiago singled. Hernandez, after fouling off a bunt attempt, swung away and singled over charging third baseman Matt Williams to put runners at first and third with no outs. Santiago scored when Calvin Murray grounded into a fielder's choice. The Giants threatened to do further damage in the inning when Bonds walked with two outs to put runners at first and second, but Johnson struck out Jeff Kent to end the inning. Kent struck out three times in the game. Shawon Dunston singled twice off Johnson and reached base a third time on an error. Tony Womack was thrown out at home in the first inning on a close play by Murray while trying to score on Williams' short fly ball to center in the first. Notes: The Diamondbacks arrived at 1:30 a.m. after playing Monday night in Philadelphia. ... On their last trip to Arizona, July 26-29, the Giants swept four games, outscoring the Diamondbacks 35-15 to climb back in the NL West race. ... Sanders was 0-for-6 against Hernandez before his home run. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing