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Byrnes' three-run homer helps Diamondbacks rally past Marlins

Jul 27, 2007 - 6:04 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks had only five hits Thursday vs. the Florida Marlins. Fortunately for them, three of the hits were homers.

Eric Byrnes hit a game-winning three-run homer in the ninth inning off reliever Armando Benitez as the Diamondbacks rallied to defeat the Florida Marlins, 7-4.

Conor Jackson hit a game-tying two-run shot in the seventh inning and starter Micah Owings also hit his first career homer for Arizona, which swept four straight vs. Florida and has won six in a row overall.

"It's amazing how things snowball in a good way," Byrnes said. "Guys take the field every night believing we're going to win the ballgame."

The Diamondbacks, who had their first four-game sweep vs. the Marlins, have won six straight for the fourth time in 2007. Arizona also edged ahead of the San Diego Padres in the National League wild-card race with the victory.

"I really believe this is a playoff team," Byrnes added. "Every day there are more and more guys who believe that. If we have 25 guys who believe that, we'll be in the playoffs."

In the bottom of the ninth, with runners on second and third and two outs, Byrnes belted an 0-2 pitch from Benitez (2-6) into the bullpen in left field for the game-winner.

"I've faced him before and I know what he has," Byrnes said. "I was lucky to get hold of one."

"Tonight's his night," said Benitez, who had held Byrnes hitless in five prior at-bats with a pair of strikeouts. "He hit the ball really well. What can you do?"

Tony Pena (5-2), Arizona's fourth pitcher, threw two innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory.

Three Diamondbacks relievers combined to limit Florida to two hits over six scoreless innings.

"You can say Byrnes hit the game-winner, but it was the bullpen that won the game for us," Jackson said.

Arizona had trailed, 4-2, in the seventh inning, when Miguel Montero was hit by a pitch from reliever Renyel Pinto. After Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez replaced Pinto with Justin Miller, Jackson, pinch hitting for reliever Doug Slaten, hit an 0-1 pitch over the left field wall to tie the game. It was Jackson's seventh homer this season.

"I just wanted to get a hit," Jackson said. "Pinch hitting is definitely not something I've had much success with. I was just looking for something to hit early in the count."

The comeback wasted an effective performance by Florida starter Byung-Hyun Kim, who yielded two runs, one hit and six walks in six-plus innings. The righthander was trying to win back-to-back starts for the first time since August 2, 2006.

"I thought Kim was fine," Gonzalez said. "However, it was probably the worst outing he's had in terms of base on balls. He usually doesn't walk that many guys."

The Marlins took an early lead in the first when Dan Uggla hit a one-out single and scored two batters later when Mike Jacobs hit a booming double to left-center field to make it 1-0.

Again the Marlins did damage with one out in the second inning. Todd Linden drew a one-out walk from Owings, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Matt Treanor followed with a base hit to left to double Florida's lead.

Kim ran into his only trouble in the second when, after he hit Jeff DaVanon with a pitch, Owings hit a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall to knot the contest at 2-2.

"It felt good, I won't lie," Owings said. "But it was overshadowed."

Two innings later, however, three consecutive singles loaded the bases for the Marlins before Kim drew a walk from Owings to give Florida a 3-2 lead. Alfredo Amezaga then was hit by Owings to make it 4-2.

That was it for Owing, who allowed four runs, six hits and two walks in three-plus innings.

"The only option I have is to keep working, keep fighting and in the end it will make me better," Owings said.

Dustin Nippert came on for Owings and retired the side without allowing a run.

"If Nip doesn't do what he did in that inning we'd never be in position to win," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said.

Jacobs had an RBI double and Treanor had two hits, including a run-scoring single, for Florida, which dropped its fourth straight game.