Stephen Drew's 3-run homer lifts Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks to 8-4 win over Rockies
By ANDREW BAGNATO | Associated Press | May 13, 08 11:27 PM CDT in
Sports
Backed by Stephen Drew's three-run homer, Randy Johnson went five shaky innings for his 287th career victory and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Colorado 8-4 on Tuesday night.
The Big Unit (3-1) gave up four runs and nine hits, striking out four and walking none.
Chris Young had three hits as the Diamondbacks hammered Colorado starter Jeff Francis (0-4), a 17-game winner for the NL champions a year ago. Francis went 4 2-3 innings, his shortest start, and gave up eight runs on 13 hits, both season highs.
Garrett Atkins hit his seventh homer and Ryan Spilborghs doubled twice for the Rockies, who fell nine games behind the NL West leaders.
The Diamondbacks were relieved to be back in the feeble NL West, where they are 18-5. Arizona is 6-10 against everyone else.
Arizona improved to 6-1 against Colorado, which swept the Diamondbacks in the NL championship series last fall. Francis beat Arizona in the opener of that series, but the Diamondbacks have shelled him in three meetings this year, piling up 20 runs on 32 hits _ including seven homers _ in 16 innings.
With Chase Field's roof open on a 77-degree evening, the Diamondbacks pounced on Francis with four straight singles to open the first inning. Orlando Hudson, Conor Jackson and Mark Reynolds each had RBI singles as Arizona took a 3-0 lead.
Colorado cut it to 3-1 in the second on a single by Atkins, a double by Spilborghs and a sacrifice fly by Jeff Baker.
The Diamondbacks responded with three more in the second. Johnson, a .167 hitter, led off with a drive off the base of the left field fence, but he stumbled as he rounded first and was held to a single.
Chris Young singled and Drew followed by hitting a 1-0 delivery into the right field seats to give the Diamondbacks a 6-1 lead. It was Drew's fifth homer.
Colorado pulled within 6-4 in the fourth, opening the inning with five straight hits against Johnson. Atkins led off by hitting a 1-1 delivery 426 feet to the left field bleachers, and Baker and Jonathan Herrera added RBI singles.
Notes:@ With the victory, Johnson tied Bert Blyleven for 26th place on the all-time list. He's 16-7 against Colorado. ... Hudson was back in the lineup after missing six games with a hamstring injury. ... Arizona LHP Doug Davis, who is returning from thyroid cancer surgery, will start for Triple-A Tucson on Sunday. Davis could rejoin the Diamondbacks' rotation next week. ... Colorado manager Clint Hurdle rested 1B Todd Helton, a career .238 hitter against Johnson.
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