Reynolds gives Diamondbacks Game One victory

Oct 4, 2007 - 7:35 AM By Jim Keller PA SportsTicker Baseball Editor

The Arizona Diamondbacks knew what they had in Brandon Webb. But they had no clue about Mark Reynolds.

Webb, the reigning Cy Young Award winner and the longest tenured Diamondback, pitched seven strong innings in their 3-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday in the first game of their best-of-five National League Division Series.

But it was the rookie Reynolds, who started the season at Class AA and was barely on the prospect radar screen for a talented young Diamondbacks team, that provided the difference.

Reynolds, who hit .306 with six homers and 22 RBI for Class AA Mobile before being summoned on May 16 to fill in for an injured Chad Tracy, hit a towering home run in the seventh inning off Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol that snapped a 1-1 tie and propelled the Diamondbacks to victory.

"Personally, I don't realize the magnitude of the situation that we're in," Reynolds said. "I just go out there and play ball. I am usually at home watching TV at this time; it is an unbelievable feeling being here and being part of this. I hope to keep the magic going."

Reynolds showed the ability to bounce back after he committed a two-base throwing error to start the fifth inning.

"Good to see him put that throwing error behind him," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "We've seen enough of Mark over the season to know he's just going to play his game. He played flawless all season."

Reynolds wouldn't even have received the call in May, but Class AAA third baseman Brian Barden also was injured. And the 24-year-old Reynolds took advantage, batting .426 (23-for-54) with four homers and 15 RBI in his first 15 games.

The youngster cooled off in June and July, hitting under .200 in each month, but he rebounded in the final two months of the season, batting .319 with nine homers and 31 RBI.

"I definitely started out hot, but then the book was kind of out on me and I went on a little roller-coaster," Reynolds said. "In August and September, I was able to make some adjustments and turn things around a little. I'm just glad I made it at the right time into the postseason."

Reynolds is just one of several youngsters thrown into the playoff fire. Shortstop Stephen Drew, who homered in the fourth inning off Chicago starter Carlos Zambrano to provide a 1-0 lead, also is 24 years old.

Starting center fielder Chris Young is 23, and catchers Chris Snyder and Miguel Montero and first baseman Conor Jackson all are under 27.

"All year, us young guys were thrown in the middle of this and we kind of don't know what's going on," Reynolds said. "We go out there and do what we know how to do, and that's play ball."

Arizona hopes Reynolds can keep the Cubs in the dark for a few more games.