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Haren gets plenty of support in win over Rockies

Sep 22, 2008 - 12:15 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks understand that they need things to go their way in order to move past the Los Angeles Dodgers and into the postseason. An explosive blowout victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday was one of those things.

Chris Young had a home run among his three hits and drove in four runs in support of Dan Haren's solid outing as the Diamondbacks cruised to a 13-4 victory over the Rockies.

"This game was good for us, just to get the momentum on our side. Hopefully we can take it to St. Louis with us," Young said. "It's a little easier when your entire team is swinging the bats hard."

Arizona racked up a season-high 19 hits, including four by Conor Jackson and three from Haren. Stephen Drew finished with two hits - including his 41st double of the year - and Josh Whitesell hit his first big-league home run.

"When I'm up there, very rarely am I swinging for the fences," Haren said. "I try to put a good at-bat up there."

Haren (16-8) yielded three runs and over six stellar innings, improving to 3-0 against Colorado this season.

The Diamondbacks (78-77), winners of 12 of 15 games against the Rockies this season, entered the day 3 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West with seven to play. The Dodgers (81-74) are playing the San Francisco Giants.

"We still believe," Young said. "We understand a couple of things would have to happen for us to make it. But there's no doubt about it - we're watching the games and watching the scoreboard and seeing where we can take this."

Arizona beat up on Colorado starter Greg Reynolds, who has struggled mightily in recent starts. He has not lasted beyond the second inning the last three times out and has given up 20 runs and 23 hits over 4 2/3 innings.

"I think it was pretty much the same stuff we've seen," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "His command has not been his best friend out there."

The Diamondbacks put up three runs before Reynolds (2-8) recorded his first out en route to coughing up a five-run rally. Drew opened with a bloop double and scored on a single by Young, with help from a fielding error by Seth Smith in center field. Jackson reached with a base hit and Dunn cleared the bases with a two-run double.

Reynolds, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 draft, gave up three doubles to fuel the explosion as Arizona batted around. Young continued the outburst in the second, leading off with a homer.

Trailing 7-0, Garrett Atkins put the Rockies on the board with a three-run homer.

"That was the only real mistake. I left it over the middle," Haren said.

In the fifth, Young laced a triple with the bases loaded to increase the Diamondbacks' lead to 10-3, and Jackson followed with a run-scoring single.

"We realize every day is a must-win," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said.