KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Justin Upton wasn't particularly fond of home-plate umpire Vic Carapazza's strike zone on Sunday. Two pitches after telling Carapazza just how he felt about it in the eighth inning, it didn't matter.
Upton lifted a high fly ball to right field that helped score Gerardo Parra from third base, and the insurance run motivated the Arizona Diamondbacks to complete a 2-0 shutout of Kansas City and capture their first series win in seven tries.
Arizona got seven strong innings from starter Wade Miley (5-1) - who gave up six hits and lowered his ERA to 2.14 - and lock-down relief pitching from David Hernandez and J.J. Putz to end a seven-game trip at 4-3.
"It's going to be a happy flight home. It's going to be fun," said Upton, who had eight hits and drew seven walks on the trip, reaching base in all seven games.
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The D-backs took a 1-0 lead in the fifth on an shortstop John McDonald's RBI bunt single. In the eighth, Parra drew a walk off reliever Greg Holland, went to second on a sacrifice and to third after a wild pitch.
That brought up Upton, who looked as if he were about to explode when Carapazza called a strike on a partial check swing at an outside pitch. Two pitches later, Upton hit one just far enough to make an impact.
Jeff Francoeur caught it and made a perfect throw home, but Parra slid under Brayan Pena, knocking him over in the process just as the catcher tried to make a tag.
"That's a phenomenal throw, that's not a good throw," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "He's right on the money and puts the catcher in the perfect spot to block the plate."
Parra, who got the start in center field with Chris Young batting as the designated hitter, said he was so impressed with Francoeur's throw that he raced into the clubhouse after the game to watch it on video.
"I know that right fielder," he said. "That was a big play right there. We needed that."
Today
• Who: Dodgers at D-backs
• When: 6:40 p.m.
• TV; radio: FSAZ; 1490-AM
