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Reynolds helps Diamondbacks blast Dodgers

Apr 8, 2008 - 6:06 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks expected their prized offseason addition, Dan Haren, to highlight their home opener. While he did not disappoint, it was the team's offense that took center stage.

Mark Reynolds hit two home runs and three RBI, leading the Diamondbacks to a 9-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.

Chris Young and Orlando Hudson also homered for the Diamondbacks, who have won four straight and lead the majors with 16 home runs this season.

"We do have some depth as far as power and we do have a couple guys in the middle (we) rely on who can knock in all of the runs, but we do have quite a few guys in the lineup that can go deep," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said.

Haren (2-0), who was the centerpiece of an eight-player deal with Oakland in December to augment ace Brandon Webb in the rotation, yielded three runs - one earned - and six hits with five strikeouts.

"I had the chills running out there," said Haren about pitching the Diamondbacks' home opener. "I was happy I was able to give a good performance, but tonight, I tip my hat to the hitters."

Arizona, coming off a three-game series sweep of the reigning National League champion Colorado Rockies over the weekend, appeared well on its way to a fourth consecutive win as four of the first five batters of the game reached and scored off Dodgers starter Esteban Loaiza (0-2).

Young opened the first inning with a walk and scored when Eric Byrnes tripled to deep center. Hudson followed with a single to plate Byrnes and a 2-0 lead.

Following a weak popout by Conor Jackson, Reynolds muscled a two-run shot to left off Loaiza, capping off the four-run first for the Diamondbacks.

"If you make mistakes in the middle of the plate, they are going to beat you up," Dodger manager Joe Torre said. "Loaiza didn't make many good pitches in the first inning, however, we were able to get close but couldn't hold it."

"I threw a lot of strikes and they just took advantage, which is why they got four runs in the first inning," Loaiza said. "They are a good hitting team."

Rafael Furcal led off the sixth with a perfectly placed drag bunt to short and moved to second on a single to right by Russell Martin. However, 20-year-old rightfielder Justin Upton bypassed the cutoff man and unleashed a throw that sailed well past third base and ended up in the stands.

Furcal, who initially had turned back to second, was awarded home while Martin moved up two bases as well. After James Loney was retired, Kent scored Martin with an RBI single to trim Arizona's lead to 4-3.

In the end, though, the Diamondbacks' power hitting was too much as Reynolds belted a two-out solo blast to deep right-center to increase their lead to 5-3 after six innings.

"I am just taking what the pitcher gives me; if he throws me a fastball away, I am going to try and hit it to right field instead of pulling it and that comes with being more mature as a hitter," Reynolds said.

In the seventh, Young greeted reliever Scott Proctor with another solo shot and, after a single from Byrnes, Hudson lined a two-run home run to right to give Arizona an 8-3 cushion.

Young, who signed a six-year extension with Arizona on Monday, completed the scoring binge in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single.

Andre Ethier had two hits for the Dodgers, who have alternated wins and losses since opening the season with two consecutive wins.