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Byrnes' two-run single helps Arizona to Opening Day win

Apr 3, 2007 - 3:34 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Cy Young winner Brandon Webb struggled, but Eric Byrnes picked him up.

Byrnes highlighted a three-run eighth inning with two-run single as the Arizona Diamondbacks posted an 8-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Opening Day.

Orlando Hudson had three hits and an RBI for the Diamondbacks, who snapped a four-game Opening Day losing streak.

With the Diamondbacks trailing, 6-5, Byrnes hit a 1-2 fastball into center field off LaTroy Hawkins (0-1) that plated two runs. Orlando Hudson followed with a sacrifice fly to provide a two-run cushion.

"I was just fortunate to get one over the plate," Byrnes said. "(Hawkins) is a tough guy out of the bullpen. He didn't fool me. It's nice to get the hit when it mattered."

Chris Young led off the inning with a single to center, advanced to third on a base hit by pinch hitter Alberto Callaspo and advanced to second on a throwing error by left fielder Matt Holliday. Stephen Drew was intentionally walked to load the bases for Byrnes.

"I made a mistake with the fastball and Byrnes hit it," Hawkins said.

"We came through. We got big contributions from everybody up and down the lineup. That's what we have to do," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "Every time someone would take the lead, the other team would come back to tie it. I'm glad we came out ahead."

Hudson continued his dominance of Rockies' starter Aaron Cook, going 3-for-4 to improve to 10-for-20 lifetime against the righthander.

Byrnes' hit helped wipe out a poor showing by Webb, who has an ERA of 8.18 in his last two starts at Coors Field. Webb never found a rhythm, allowing five runs and eight hits in five frames.

"The first inning, I think I started off on the wrong foot, almost 40 pitches, and I was just kind of getting out of my rhythm," Webb said. "I was rushing things and just wasn't throwing strikes. I was probably excited and was wanting to get the ball there before I was ready to get the ball there, and so, mechanically, probably wasn't very sound."

Juan Cruz (1-0) got the final out of the seventh inning to pick up the win for Arizona. Brandon Lyon worked out of an eighth-inning jam and closer Jose Valverde worked around a lead-off double in the ninth to earn his first save.

Jeff Baker homered in the sixth off Arizona reliever Brandon Medders and Brad Hawpe had three hits and drove in two runs for the Rockies, who had been 3-0 vs Arizona on Opening Day.

Cook struggled in his first career opening day start, pitching six innings and allowing five runs and nine hits with four walks.

Scott Hairston's two-out two-run double in the fifth inning provided Arizona a 5-2 edge, but rookie Chris Iannetta's two-run single and Kaz Matsui's RBI hit in the bottom of the frame tied the contest.