PHOENIX – The Diamondbacks finally won a series, Dan Haren finally won a game and for once, they can finally enjoy a day off.
Haren pitched seven scoreless innings Wednesday and the Diamondbacks got just enough hits when they needed them to beat the Rockies 2-0 at Chase Field to win their first series in five tries.
Haren entered the game 0-3 with a 1.89 ERA, becoming just the second pitcher since 1983 to start a season 0-3 and have an ERA below 2.00.
But thanks to a much-needed spark by the offense in the seventh inning, Haren collected win No. 1 of 2009. He also lowered his ERA to 1.38.
“You don’t want to go through the whole month of April and not win a game,” said Haren, who was given only one run by D’backs hitters in his first three starts. “I was digging myself quite a hole, being 0-3. But I’ve been proud of the way I’ve been keeping the team in the game, and that’s really my job to go out there and give the team a chance every time.”
The win came after the Diamondbacks managed only three hits off Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa through the first six innings, and one of them was a single up the middle by Haren. But in the seventh, Chris Young led off with a single to left. Chris Snyder hit a one-out single to center.
And then Ryan Roberts, pinch-hitting for Haren, stroked a hard single to the gap in right-center field, scoring Young. It was the second major league RBI for the 28-year-old Roberts, playing in his 26th career game. His first came on Aug. 3, 2006, when he played for Toronto and homered off Cory Lidle of the New York Yankees.
“It’s fortunate that you get called on when you get called on, and the key is just to be ready,” said Roberts, who had five at-bats in the first 14 games.
After an intentional walk to Felipe Lopez and Stephen Drew’s third strikeout of the game, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle lifted De La Rosa for reliever Jason Grilli. With the bases loaded, Conor Jackson fouled off a series of pitches before drawing a walk to make it 2-0.
“It was nice to be able to reward (Haren) with the win after pitching in conditions where every pitch could have an effect on the outcome of the game,” Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s tough to pitch like that, especially against a lineup like that.”
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UP NEXT
Friday: Arizona (Doug Davis 1-2, 2.57) at San Francisco (Jonathan Sanchez 1-1, 3.97), 6:40 p.m. TV: FSNA. Radio: 1490-AM