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Posted 5-14-08
Drew, D'Backs down Rockies
Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Stephen Drew clubbed a three-run home run to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks past the Colorado Rockies, 8-4 in the opener of a three-game set.
Orlando Hudson went 2-for-4, knocked in two runs and scored once for the D'Backs, who snapped their three-game skid, but have recorded victories in just three of their last nine contests. Conor Jackson, Mark Reynolds and Chris Burke had an RBI apiece in the win.
Randy Johnson (3-1) got the win, despite giving up four runs on nine hits in five innings. The Arizona bullpen pitched four frames of three-hit ball.
Garrett Atkins went 2-for-5 with a solo homer for the Rockies, who have dropped three contests in a row. Ryan Spilborghs had two doubles and also scored, while Jeff Baker knocked in a pair of runs. Jonathan Herrera went 2- for-4 and had the other Colorado RBI.
Jeff Francis (0-4) took the loss after he was roughed up for eight runs on 13 hits in just 4 2/3 innings of work.
"Obviously, there is some concern," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said of Francis' slow start. "We know he's capable of doing better, we've seen it. I know it's frustrating for him, he wants to get us off on the right foot."
Arizona got on the board in the first. Chris Young and Drew led off with back- to-back singles, and Hudson followed suit with an RBI single to make it first and third. Jackson added another single to plate Drew. Three batters later, Reynolds singled to bring around Hudson, and the D'Backs had a 3-0 lead after one inning.
Colorado got one back in the second. Atkins led off with a single, moved to third on Spilborghs' double and crossed home on a Baker sac fly to center, to bring the Rockies within 3-1.
The D'Backs added some insurance in the second, as Johnson and Young clubbed back-to-back singles to open the frame. Drew then made it a five-run cushion as he belted a three-run homer -- his fifth of the year -- over the fence in right.
The Rockies inched their way closer in the fourth. Atkins led off with a homer and Spilborghs slugged a double. After advancing to third on a balk, Spilborghs crossed home on a Baker single. Yorvit Torrealba followed with a single and Herrera brought Baker home with a base hit of his own. The surge brought Colorado within 6-4.
Young cracked a double in the home fourth, and scored on Hudson's single to right field. The D'Backs increased their cushion to three runs after four innings.
Arizona made it 8-4 in the fifth. Justin Upton singled and moved to third on Miguel Montero's single, before crossing home when Burke singled to right.
"It felt good," Drew said of the win. "With the team coming out early and putting up some runs, compared to the Chicago trip, it's exciting to get back to where we were at."
Game Notes
Johnson has fanned 226 Colorado hitters in 183 2/3 innings against the club...The Diamondbacks won their first five matchups with Colorado before losing to the club, 13-5, the last time they met on April 13...Attendance was 27,292. |
