|
Welcome:
Login to StatFox |
Register |
Login to FoxSheets
|
The Leading Logic In Sports Handicapping |
|
          |
|
|
|
|
 |
PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Stephen Drew and the Arizona Diamondbacks
had the bats working overtime.
Drew drove in three runs and Orlando Hudson had two RBI as the
Diamondbacks snapped their three-game losing streak with an 8-4
victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.
Arizona wasted no time jumping on Rockies starter Jeff Francis,
who allowed run-scoring singles to Hudson, Conor Jackson and
Mark Reynolds in the first inning.
After Francis (0-4) surrendered singles to the first two batters
for the second straight frame, Drew cleared the bases with his
fifth homer - a three-run blast - to right field to forge a 6-1
lead.
"It felt good, 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," Drew said.
"Obviously there is some concern, because we know (Francis')
capable of doing better, we've seen it," Colorado manager Clint
Hurdle said. "I know its frustrating for him, he wants to get us
off on the right foot, and before you know it two innings into
the game we're down 6 to 1, so that's a challenge that's tough
to overcome."
The Diamondbacks pounded out 15 hits, with Chris B. Young
leading the pack with three.
Arizona starter Randy Johnson (3-1) gave up four runs and nine
hits with four strikeouts over five innings for his second win
in a row. It was Johnson's 16th career win over the Rockies.
"Not (Johnson's) best stuff, but he gives us five (innings),
we're in the lead when he leaves and he ends up getting a win,"
Arizona manager Bob Melvin said
The towering lefthander gave up the bulk of his runs during a
three-run fourth inning that was sparked by Garrett Atkins'
seventh homer this season - a leadoff shot over the left-center
wall - to close the gap to 6-4.
But Arizona got an RBI single from Hudson in the bottom half and
Chris Burke registered a pitch-hit run-scoring single an inning
later.
The 27-year-old Francis has struggled in two starts on the road
against the Diamondbacks, who collected 13 runs and 25 hits off
the Canadian lefthander this season.
"I don't know what it to be honest with you Jeff Francis is a
great pitcher, he switched up his game plan a couple of times,
we just happen to be swinging the bats when we see him and we
put together some hits," Arizona rightfielder Justin Upton said.
Francis was tagged for season highs in runs (8) and hits (13) in
just 4 2/3 innings to remain winless on the season after
winning 17 games last year.
"I feel like I'm better than this and I feel like I'm giving my
team a chance to win, a lot better than I am right now," Francis
said. "Whether I get a win or a loss, if you get a win it's a
bonus, if you can keep your team in the game, I feel like I gave
up six runs early but we came out and scored four, if I could
have kept it at six, we would have been right in the ballgame."
|
|
| |
|
|