PHOENIX (AP) - The Arizona Diamondbacks lost a key player and a tough game against Pittsburgh.

Arizona got a solid start from Daniel Hudson before Neil Walker hit a bloop single in the eighth inning to knock in a run and lift the Pirates to a 2-1 win over Arizona on Wednesday.

The Diamondbacks placed All-Star Chris Young on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder contusion after the center fielder had an MRI done before Wednesday's game. Young, who was injured crashing into the wall in left-center field a day earlier, was batting .410 with five home runs and 13 RBIs through 11 games.

Advertisement

``Certainly disappointing. It was one of the hottest bats in the National league. To lose him for at least the next couple of weeks will be difficult but we have to deal with it,' Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers said after Wednesday's game.

``From talking to the doctors it is a deep AC joint contusion. I think there is a small, small little tear of the ligament,' Towers added. ``If you ask C.Y., he probably would want to come back tomorrow and play, but the doctors told us a couple of weeks off. This way he won't do any more damage to it.'

Young will need only rest to let the shoulder inflammation go down.

``It is my first time (on the DL). It is not something I am used to,' Young said. ``I have never been on the bench and knowing that I don't have even a little bit of a chance of getting in the game, I'm not too happy about it.'

There was still more bad news for the Diamondbacks. Star right fielder Justin Upton didn't start and is limited to pinch-running and defensive roles because of a sore thumb. Towers said Upton is day-to-day and the club is hopeful he can avoid a stint on the DL.

Injury news aside, the Diamondbacks had a game to play, and went ahead 1-0 after leadoff man Willie Bloomquist tripled and scored on Jason Kubel's single in the first inning.

It marked the 10th time in 12 games that Arizona has scored in the first inning.

Hudson (1-1) allowed two runs on six hits, including a solo home run to Pedro Alvarez in the top of the seventh, over 7 2-3 innings. Hudson struck out five and walked three in his best start of the season.

He allowed at least one baserunner in all but one of his innings, but was the beneficiary of three double plays turned behind him. In the eighth, however, he couldn't get the third out as Walker dropped a two-out single into shallow center field to drive in Clint Barmes from second base with the go-ahead run.

Barmes, Andrew McCutchen and Walker all had two-out hits for the Pirates in the inning.

``I had better command today of all my pitches. The ball felt better coming out of my hand. Just a tough loss,' Hudson said.

The Diamondbacks couldn't rally against four Pirates relievers once starter James McDonald was removed after four innings. Former Diamondback Juan Cruz earned his second save in as many games as the Pirates won a series in Phoenix for the first time since May 2005.

``We didn't capitalize on our opportunities,' Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. ``You've got to give Pittsburgh a little credit, six out of their last seven runs (in the series) they scored with two outs.'

Diamondbacks rookie A.J. Pollock, brought up from Triple-A Reno to take one of two open spots on the roster after infielder Geoff Blum was also placed on the 15-day DL, made his major-league debut, batting seventh and playing center field in place of Young. Pollock went 0 for 3 with a walk and was caught stealing when he over-slid the second base bag in the seventh inning.

NOTES: The Pirates placed RHP Jeff Karstens (shoulder) on the 15-day disabled list before Wednesday's game, due to right shoulder inflammation. The club recalled RHP Brad Lincoln from AAA Indianapolis, where he was 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings, and Lincoln pitched three scoreless innings Wednesday. Karstens (0-1 in three games) started Tuesday's game but left after one inning due to the injury. RHP A.J. Burnett (orbital bone surgery) is expected to make a fourth rehabilitation start Saturday with AA Altoona (Pa.). All five of the Diamondbacks' losses this season have been decided by a single run. Hudson's loss was the first for a Diamondbacks starting pitcher this season.