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Johnson, Diamondbacks rattle Rockies

Aug 13, 2008 - 5:05 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- Adam Dunn admitted to some nerves during his first game with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he'll take a little anxiety over a loss any day.

Dunn doubled in his first appearance since being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds, and while he wasn't totally pleased with his at-bats he was more than happy to be part of Arizona's 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.

"I didn't think I'd be as nervous as I was. I swung at some pitches I probably shouldn't have, and I took some pitches I probably should have swung at," Dunn said. "But it was good. It's the first time I've been part of a win in a long time.

Chad Tracy collected three hits, including a two-run homer, and Chris Snyder delivered a go-ahead RBI double for the Diamondbacks, who remain atop the National League West with the best divisional record in the majors at 30-15.

Randy Johnson worked six innings, fanning the side in the fourth on the way to seven strikeouts. Aside from a shaky second, where he gave up a home run and two doubles, Johnson (10-8) allowed two other singles.

"After putting up those two runs he was pretty stingy," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "He had really good stuff. His velocity jumped again and his slider was real sharp."

Brandon Lyon picked up his career-high 25th save with a perfect ninth.

Ubaldo Jimenez (8-11) took the loss, his second straight after a stretch of seven wins in nine starts.

"Batters squared up on some pitches that he left over the middle of the plate," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said.

Mark Reynolds struck first for Arizona with a single. He advanced to second on a throwing error by Ian Stewart. Tracy then blasted his seventh home run deep over the wall in right field to put Arizona ahead, 2-0, in the second.

"We put guys on-base and gave ourselves some opportunities to win the ballgame," said Chris Young, who chipped in with two hits. "We came through with some big hits, (Johnson) threw an amazing game and our bullpen came in and did an amazing job. That's how you win ballgames."

Colorado wasted no time responding. Chris Iannetta lifted the first pitch he saw from Johnson over the fence for a solo homer. With two-out, Clint Barmes doubled and scored on a hard, line double by Stewart to even the score.

Arizona threatened in the fifth after Stephen Drew opened the inning with a double and advanced to third on Augie Ojeda's textbook sacrifice bunt. The base hit gave Drew a 14-game hitting streak, a career best. But Drew found himself caught between third and home after Conor Jackson hit a grounder to Troy Tulowitzki at short, who chased down Drew for the out. Still, the Diamondbacks weren't done.

Dunn doubled to push Jackson over to third, but Jimenez struck out Reynolds to leave the two runners stranded in scoring position.

Arizona made it count in the sixth when Snyder looped a double over the head of Willy Taveras in center field, scoring Young from second base. Johnson then added a bit of insurance for himself, plating Snyder with a hard-hit single to right field for a 4-2 advantage.

"The RBI to make it 4-2 instead of 3-2 is big," Johnson said. "Now they have to put somebody on base to put up the tying run."

For the Rockies, who put the tying run on base in the seventh to no avail, Barmes had a double among his two hits. The home run by Iannetta was his 14th.

"We had chances in the fifth and the seventh but we couldn't convert," Hurdle said. "We had our chances to win the ballgame, but that single from Johnson gave them some distance in a place you might not expect it."