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Diamondbacks break out late, pound Padres

Apr 20, 2008 - 4:33 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks are showing the San Diego Padres exactly how to score runs.

The Diamondbacks broke out for nine unanswered runs in the late innings en route to a 10-3 win over the Padres Saturday night.

Eric Byrnes drove in two and Justin Upton scored a pair for Arizona, which leads the major leagues in runs scored.

With his team trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh, Upton greeted reliever Joe Thatcher (0-2) with a leadoff single and Drew followed with a double into the gap in left, plating Upton all the way from first to tie the game, 3-3.

Thatcher recovered to strike out Chris Snyder and retire Chris Burke on a popout to first base before Chris Young singled to left to score Drew and put the Diamondbacks on top, 4-3.

"We were battling the whole day because (Padres starter) Chris Young was pitching well, we just never gave up," Drew said. "It reminded us of last year and we just kept battling. Everybody is swinging the bats good and picking each other up. It is just one of those things that hopefully will keep on going and everybody will catch on fire."

The offense really opened up in the eighth, pushing across six runs to turn the game into a laugher. Byrnes doubled in a pair in the frame and Drew and Upton scored on a fielding error by usually sure-handed San Diego shortstop Khalil Greene.

"We have to play better. We have the players to play better, we have to do it," Padres manager Bud Black said. "I think there is some power in our lineup but we left some guys on base. Getting that big hit with two outs is a big momentum lift for the club and we haven't come through in those situations. On the other end the Diamondbacks are."

Arizona made the playoffs last season despite owning one of the weakest offenses in the game. This season, the club has paired its stellar pitching staff - which leads the majors in runs allowed - with an improving young lineup.

The result has been a 13-4 record, the best start in franchise history, and a 112-56 run differential - the best in the game.

"I don't think anyone could have predicted this as far as the number of runs and the way we are doing it offensively," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "I would have never thought - the potential existed but not to the extent we are seeing it now after 17 games we would have the runs we have.

Young allowed just two runs in six solid frames before yielding to the bullpen.

Edgar Gonzalez allowed three runs in six innings for the Diamondbacks. Juan Cruz (1-0) picked up the win as three relievers combined to allow one hit in three scoreless innings.

"The three runs were on three bad pitches. I need to throw with better command because if they don't hit those pitches they don't get any runs," Gonzalez said. "I did pitch better than last time. I felt better and the bullpen came in and did a great job. That was the key keeping it close."

In the first two games of the series the Diamondbacks outscored the Padres 19-3.

"We are not playing very good baseball right now," said Brian Giles, who gave the Padres a 3-1 lead with a two-run homer in the fifth. "We are not putting any kind of pressure on the opposing team with our offense. We have had trouble this year not putting the knife in the heart and not adding on."