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Haren, five-run fifth help Diamondbacks dispose of Rockies

Aug 14, 2008 - 11:30 PM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- Dan Haren hopes he is starting to regain his early season form.

Haren cruised threw eight innings and Chris Snyder and Chris Burke hit back-to-back homers in a five-run fifth as the Arizona Diamondbacks rolled to a 6-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

Haren (13-6) allowed just two runs and seven hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. He also did some damage at the plate with two hits.

Despite having won four of his last five starts enter Thursday, Haren hadn't been happy with his performance lately.

"I haven't thrown the ball too well lately," said Haren, who had allowed 10 runs in his previous 11 1/3 innings. " I threw great for two months but I'm kind of going through a stretch, struggling a little bit. But that's just part of a long season. With 32 or 33 starts, not all of them can go great."

"I thought early on (Haren) might not have his best stuff," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "But he doesn't always need his best stuff to win games."

Adam Dunn drove in two runs and Stephen Drew collected two hits and scored a run for the Diamondbacks (62-59), who moved one-half game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers (61-59) in the National League West.

The Dodgers host the Philadelphia Phillies later Thursday.

Matt Holliday homered for Colorado, which has lost 10 of 12 meetings with Arizona this season.

Colorado's Glendon Rusch (5-4) was in command early, as he allowed just one hit through four innings and carried a 1-0 lead into the decisive fifth frame. But Mark Reynolds lifted the first pitch of the inning for a double and Snyder connected for a two-run homer to put Arizona up, 2-1. Burke followed with his first home run of the season. Rusch left after walking Conor Jackson to load the bases.

Dunn, who ended Wednesday's loss by grounding out, raked the second pitch from Matt Herges for a two-run single to give the Diamondbacks a four-run lead. Dunn is 4-for-9 with three RBI in four games since being acquired from Cincinnati on Monday.

"This is why you play the game, to be able to put yourself in a position to play in the postseason," Dunn said. "I can't ask for anything better. These last two months are going to be great."

Rusch, who had won his last four decisions, was charged with five runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Arizona's Chris Young delivered an RBI double in the seventh. Holliday capped the scoring with a solo shot - his 23rd of the season - off Haren in the eighth.

"The offense really came through, and Danny kept the momentum on our side," Young said. "When you have quick innings like that as a pitcher, it's easier to come back in and keep things moving on our side. (Rusch) got back behind the count a couple of times to where he had to throw strikes, but I thought he did a good job."

Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the first when Chris Iannetta, a late addition to the lineup, belted an RBI double to right-center field.

Rockies' manager Clint Hurdle knows his team has a huge uphill battle. The defending NL Champion, Colorado (54-69) trail Arizona by nine games in the West and are well behind the wild card-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

"A difficult chore is in front of us. We've just got work to do. That's where we are. I'm going to be an eternal optimist," Hurdle said. "No matter what the situation is or how dire the straits look at the time, you got to keep playing baseball. Find a way to dig down and get results."