(Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

The Diamondbacks lost a heartbreaker to the Padres today 8-7, when Tad Iguchi homered off Yusmeiro Petit in the bottom of the 13th at PETCO Park in San Diego.

The Diamondbacks’ big stick was wielded by starting pitcher Micah Owings, who went 2-3 with his first RBI of the season and 2 runs scored. He’s now batting .389. But he twisted an ankle on the base paths in the top of the 6th and had to leave the game. Considering he’d given up 5 earned runs through 5 (4 in the second inning), that might not have been so bad. But I remember last year, Micah hurt himself running out a triple. Does he need baserunning lessons or something? I love his hitting–he’s now at .389– but I don’t want to see him get hurt running the bases.

The blown save belonged to Brandon Medders, who pitched the next two innings and gave up two runs. It was empty the bullpen time for both teams as the D’Backs also used Qualls, Slaten and Petit (and had Pena warmed up in the late innings in case there was a save situation), while the Padres started with Germano and followed up with Thatcher and Meredith, each of whom blew a save, the Bell, Hoffman and Rusch.

It’s Webb vs. Peavy tomorrow and both Bob Melvin and Bud Black are hoping their aces will pitch as such and spare their bullpens.

Micah Owings wasn’t the only D’Backs casualty of the day. Justin Upton suffered leg cramps and had to leave in the 7th. He was replaced by Jeff Salazar, who got a single in his two AB’s.

Eric Byrnes was back in the lineup after two days’ rest and he had a good day. He went 2-5, including his 10th double of the year, a BB, and a HBP (in his left leg just above the kneecap–OWWW! as if he doesn’t have enough leg problems these days). He scored two runs and ended the day batting .293. It would have been 3-5 but for a very good play by Padres left fielder Paul McAnulty to rob him of extra bases in the 9th. Orlando Hudson singled immediately afterward, so McAnulty’s catch was a game-saver for the Padres.

The Diamondbacks’ radio announcers observed Byrnesie eating a banana late in the game and remarked about his getting potassium that way and how the team could not afford any more cramps, having lost Justin Upton to then earlier in the day. Perhaps this gives a hint as to the “complicated” leg injuries Byrnesie will not name, but that seem to be more than your run-of-the-mill pull or strain.

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