• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Drew helps Diamondbacks coast past Rockies

May 14, 2008 - 5:35 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Stephen Drew and the Arizona Diamondbacks had the bats working overtime.

Drew drove in three runs and Orlando Hudson had two RBI as the Diamondbacks snapped their three-game losing streak with an 8-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.

Arizona wasted no time jumping on Rockies starter Jeff Francis, who allowed run-scoring singles to Hudson, Conor Jackson and Mark Reynolds in the first inning.

After Francis (0-4) surrendered singles to the first two batters for the second straight frame, Drew cleared the bases with his fifth homer - a three-run blast - to right field to forge a 6-1 lead.

"It felt good, with the team coming out early and putting up some runs, compared to the Chicago trip, it's exciting to get back to where we were at," Drew said.

"Obviously there is some concern, because we know (Francis') capable of doing better, we've seen it," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "I know its frustrating for him, he wants to get us off on the right foot, and before you know it two innings into the game we're down 6 to 1, so that's a challenge that's tough to overcome."

The Diamondbacks pounded out 15 hits, with Chris B. Young leading the pack with three.

Arizona starter Randy Johnson (3-1) gave up four runs and nine hits with four strikeouts over five innings for his second win in a row. It was Johnson's 16th career win over the Rockies.

"Not (Johnson's) best stuff, but he gives us five (innings), we're in the lead when he leaves and he ends up getting a win," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said

The towering lefthander gave up the bulk of his runs during a three-run fourth inning that was sparked by Garrett Atkins' seventh homer this season - a leadoff shot over the left-center wall - to close the gap to 6-4.

But Arizona got an RBI single from Hudson in the bottom half and Chris Burke registered a pitch-hit run-scoring single an inning later.

The 27-year-old Francis has struggled in two starts on the road against the Diamondbacks, who collected 13 runs and 25 hits off the Canadian lefthander this season.

"I don't know what it to be honest with you Jeff Francis is a great pitcher, he switched up his game plan a couple of times, we just happen to be swinging the bats when we see him and we put together some hits," Arizona rightfielder Justin Upton said.

Francis was tagged for season highs in runs (8) and hits (13) in just 4 2/3 innings to remain winless on the season after winning 17 games last year.

"I feel like I'm better than this and I feel like I'm giving my team a chance to win, a lot better than I am right now," Francis said. "Whether I get a win or a loss, if you get a win it's a bonus, if you can keep your team in the game, I feel like I gave up six runs early but we came out and scored four, if I could have kept it at six, we would have been right in the ballgame."