Owings rallies D-backs to win

Randy Johnson clearly did not have command of his slider today, and when he is reduced to throwing his less than stellar 44 year-old fastball, it's not going to be pretty. And it wasn't. The Big Unit gave up six earned runs in only four innings (nine hits as well...). But, it's a fine line he's walking now. If he doesn't have command of all of his pitches, he is very average. So, I expect much of the season will be like this....inconsistent from one start to the next.

But the big story was Micah Owings tying up the game in the sixth with a pinch-hit two-run dinger off of Houston reliever Dave Borkowski to bring the score to 7-7. Owings' homer was his first of the year (hear I am talking like he's a regular position player who we all expect to hit more...wow) brought his season average up to .421. Eric Byrnes then came up and banged an RBI single which figured to be the final run as the D-backs scratched back for an 8-7 victory.

Ahh...another series win....amazing. Arizona now goes to 20-8 on the season. 20 wins in April...normally a club will shoot for winning 15 games every month, which brings your season total to about 90. A month at 20 is outstanding.

Astros manager Cecil Cooper was positively pissed after the game for his team letting leads of 4-0 and 6-2 escape.

"We can't get the stinking pitcher out, we're in trouble," Cooper said after the game. "My goodness, a two-run lead and we can't even get out of the stinking inning. That's unacceptable, and it won't happen again, I can promise you that. You get these guys down, you've got them 4-0, 6-2, and we let them back in the game. It won't happen again. It definitely won't happen again."

"All [Borkowski's] got to do, he's got one right-handed hitter to get out, and that happens to be a pitcher," Cooper said. "And we can't make a pitch to get him out. And on the first pitch. It's unacceptable. And I won't stand for it no more."

Gotta love that.....I love the candor of Cooper.

Owings' pinch hit homer was the first by a pitcher in four years. He is still expected to make his scheduled start on Friday, but he was noticeably limping as he rounded the bases just doing a home run trot. So, sure hope he gets that worked out by then.

Another good day for Conor Jackson at the plate today as he went 2-for-4 and hit his fifth homer of the year (solo shot) in the third. Conor is clearly a different guy this year...so much more confident, you can just see it in the way he's handling himself.

Well deserved off day for the guys tomorrow. With Byrnes and Owings dinged up, it'll do both of them a world of good. The Mets are in town on Friday and really looking forward to it. Actually anyone outside of the NL West is appealing right now...not from a potential win standpoint, but 22 straight games against the NL West was just a bit much so early.

**********************************************************************************

Glad the front office read my plea yesterday to move Max Scherzer into the rotation :-)...The D-backs announced today that he will be in the starting rotation from this point forward and will make his debut Monday against the Phillies. That's a potent lineup to get your first major league start...but I think Scherzer will be up for it. Nothing seems to phase this guy. As expected, Edgar Gonzalez will move to the pen.