Fans poured out to Chase Field on Saturday

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/22/11

PHOENIX -- D-Backs manager Kirk Gibson expects his team to play hard, regardless of the number of fans in attendance.

"If there's nobody in here or 40,000 in here, we need to come with the same intensity every day," Gibson said.

But, he admits: "It's a lot nicer when there's more people."

On Saturday, the D-Backs pulled in their second highest crowd of the season, when 39,776 people watched Kelly Johnson cap a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Chase Field.

"Having the fans get into it like that," Johnson said. "It's probably the coolest thing for any of us to experience."

Saturday's attendance was second only to Opening Day on April 8 against the Reds.

"It's something good," Gibson said. "I've talked about restoring positive affirmations and those are the types of things that add to the moment. It's fun."