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Haren gets bailed out as Diamondbacks get to Peavy

Aug 21, 2008 - 6:22 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Dan Haren did not have his best stuff on Wednesday. Luckily for the Arizona Diamondbacks, neither did Jake Peavy.

Haren allowed four runs in the first inning but still had a two-run lead after the second, and the Diamondbacks held on for an 8-6 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a two-run homer in the first off Haren as the Padres took a 3-0 lead. Arizona answered right back.

"Obviously, I didn't like my chances, but we came back," Haren said. "We had some great at-bats the first inning, good at-bats the second inning and I was able to hold them down, for the most part. I didn't have good stuff today, tried to battle, keep the guys in the game and had 80 pitches, but I think it was better off getting the bullpen in the last three."

Adam Dunn hit his National League-leading 34th homer in the bottom of the frame, a three-run shot to tie the contest. Conor Jackson highlighted a three-run second with a two-run single to put Arizona in front, 6-3.

"I know (Peavy) didn't want to load the bases, and I kind of guessed right and I got a fastball and put a good swing on it, and that's what happens," Dunn said.

Dunn walked two times and scored twice and Mark Reynolds added a two-run double in the seventh to put the Diamondbacks ahead, 8-5.

Haren (14-6) was able to stick around for six innings and win for the seventh time in eight starts. He allowed five runs and 11 hits with four strikeouts.

"I think Danny held in there pretty well for us, to give us six after the amount of hits he gave up," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "He was not throwing the ball exactly where he wanted to, hung some breaking balls. (He's) a fighter. Guys like that are able to get you deep in the game and put that stuff behind you, and like I said, seemed to get a little bit better as the game went along."

Jon Rauch gave up a solo home run by Jody Gerut in the ninth but recorded his 18th save. It was Rauch's first save since being acquired from the Washington Nationals on July 22.

Peavy (9-9) allowed six runs and five hits while walking four with two strikeouts. In all, Padres pitchers yielded eight walks to the Diamondbacks (66-60) who managed only six hits but won for the fifth time in six games to move two games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers (64-62) in the National League West.

"Obviously, it's disappointing," Peavy said. "We come out against a guy like Dan Haren, who's been as good as anybody all year, score four before I take the field. It's unacceptable when you can't hold that lead. I competed tonight but just didn't have it."