Haren and homers take down Rockies in finale

First of all, I have been quite remiss in giving props to Stephen Drew of late. The guy has been absolute nails during his 16-game hitting streak, which included a 2-for-5 today that has lifted his average to a now very solid .282 on the season. Drew is as dialed in as he's been in a couple of years...looking very much like he did after being called up in the middle of the '06 campaign.

As for today's game....now that's what I'm talking about. Dan Haren was again back to his typical self (after a couple of previous so-so outings), and took it hard to the Rockies in beating them 6-2 to win the series. A full eight innings with nine K's and a couple of walks. That's solid. I said earlier this was a must game, and the D-backs played like it was. Haren afterward sounded like he was pleased with his outing as well.

"I haven't really been throwing the ball too well lately," Haren said. "I threw the ball great for two months and have been going through a stretch where I'm scuffling a little bit, but you know, that's just part of a long season. Making 33, 34 starts, not all of them are going to be great.

"I just felt a lot better out there, just smooth with my mechanics and was able to put my ball where I wanted to."

Haren also helped the club at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. The rest of the lineup did some damage as well. Chris Snyder and Chris Burke went deep back-to-back in the fifth off of Rockies starter Glendon Rusch. Rusch was mowing them down through the first four...and then the wheels came off as he as hammered in the fifth. Adam Dunn also came through with his first RBIs since coming over, hitting a two-run single in that same inning. It's quite impressive that the D-backs are 10-2 this year against Colorado. But then again, this is not the same Rockies team either.

Now going to Houston for a three-game series, with Brandon Webb taking the hill, Arizona will have their hands full in taking on these guys. The Astros have now won eight in a row and now have an identical record with the D-backs (62-59). Playing in the Juice Box in Houston is always a good time...I really like the layout of this one. The Dodgers won again tonight against the Phills...so the two teams stay knotted at the top.

This is going to be some fun watching this race go down to the final weekend.....


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I see that the Diamondbacks finally announced who the other player was in the trade with Dunn. It's AAA Tucson catcher Wilkin Castillo. Didn't figure it would be another known guy like Owings. It looks like Owings has not cleared waivers as yet.