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Drew powers Diamondbacks over Rockies

Sep 21, 2008 - 4:47 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- Stephen Drew turned an embarrassing moment into a game-winner by hitting a two-run homer in the ninth inning that gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.

Facing Brian Fuentes with the game deadlocked at 3-3, Drew trotted to first base after ball three, thinking he had just drawn a two-out walk. With the crowd jeering, Drew casually walked back to the plate and promptly crushed Fuentes' full-count offering over the right field wall.

"Man, I tell you that was the most embarrassing moment. But I like to joke around and stuff," Drew said. "Can't do nothing about it; I thought I had four balls. So be it. I got back in there and it turned out good."

Drew may have drawn sideways looks in the bullpen after trotting to first, but manager Bob Melvin was pleased with the final result.

"To stay with it and hit a ball out of the park off (Fuentes) is definitely atonement," Melvin said. "I'm glad it kept him in the batter's box ultimately."

The win snapped an 11-game road losing streak and helped Arizona remain in the hunt for the National League West title with seven games left to play. The Diamondbacks (77-77) entered the day 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers (80-74), who are playing the San Francisco Giants.

"It's nice to get a win, period, especially the way the game went back and forth after we literally gave them a couple runs," Melvin said.

Chad Qualls gave up a one-out triple by Ian Stewart in the bottom of the ninth but held on to pick up his sixth save of the season.

The Rockies had tied the contest at 3-3 in the eighth, when Garrett Atkins lifted a sacrifice fly off Tony Pena (2-1).

After Colorado's Jeff Baker belted a solo homer in the sixth to forge a 2-2 tie, Arizona reclaimed the lead in the seventh.

With the bases loaded, pinch hitter Tony Clark hit a soaring fly ball to deep right-center. Center fielder Willy Taveras raced toward the warning track to make the play but overran the ball for an error, allowing Chris Snyder to score.

"I think he just sprinted so hard off the bat and ended up overrunning it," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said of Taveras.

Colorado starter Aaron Cook allowed three runs and five hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. The All-Star, who failed in his bid to become the fourth pitcher in franchise history to win 17 games in a season, is 0-1 in four starts since posting his 16th win on August 29 against San Diego.

"I knew I had to settle down and keep the game right where it was and give the guys a chance to come back," Cook said.

Counterpart Doug Davis yielded two runs and six hits in six frames, walking one and striking out four.

"Early in the game I just stayed away but later on I was able to expand inside with that cutter," Davis said.