Benes Hits Centrury Mark In 'Zona Win

May 18, 1998 / 1:52 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Andy Benes was less concerned with 100th National League win than his third victory with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Benes threw seven solid innings for his first victory in more than a month and Matt Williams had three hits and two RBIs to lead the Diamondbacks to an 8-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday night.

Benes (3-3) gave up two runs and nine hits for his first win since April 16.

"I wasn't even aware of (the milestone) until a couple of months ago," Benes said. "It just means I've been around a while. I don't plan on this being my last game."

Kelly Stinnett homered and Travis Lee had two RBIs for the Diamondbacks, who won for the third time in four games.

"We have to realize that we can win games," Williams said. "Everyone in this room can play and play well. We just have to do it."

Pittsburgh starter Estaban Loaiza put the Pirates ahead 2-0 with a two-run single in the second, but he couldn't hold the lead. Loaiza (2-2) allowed six runs on eight hits in 4 1-3 innings.

"Loaiza didn't run out of gas," Pittsburgh manager Gene Lamont said. "He just didn't have his best stuff. He didn't throw like his last game (a 6-0 win over Colorado.)"

Arizona tied it in the third on Jay Bell's RBI double and Lee's run-scoring single. Lee was making his first start after missing two games with a strained right hamstring.

The Diamondbacks took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on Andy Fox's RBI single, and they added three runs in the fifth on Williams' RBI triple, David Dellucci's sacrifice fly and Stinnett's 437-foot homer into the picnic area in left-center field.

"That was pretty impressive for a little guy," Benes said. "It came at the right time."

Notes:

Benes, who spent two months with the Seattle Mariners in 1995, has a career record of 107-97.

Arizona has rallied for seven of its 11 victories.

The Diamondbacks (11-32) may have the worst record in the majors, but they are only one game behind the pace of the 1993 Colorado Rockies. The Rockies were 12-29 after 41 games in their inaugural season but went on to win 67 games, an NL expansion best.

Stinnett extended his career-high hitting streak to 10 games with an infield single in the second inning. His four home runs matches a career high.

The Pirates are 0-16 when they score three runs or less.

Al Martin stole second in the first inning and is 5-for-5 on theft attempts this season.

The Diamondbacks have homered in nine straight games.