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July 19, 2008 - 8:10PM
Updated: July 19, 2008 - 10:46PM
D-Backs hang on for Haren, edge Dodgers
Kyle Odegard, Tribune
No matter how well he pitches, a win is never easy to come by for Dan Haren. He earned the National League Pitcher of the Month award for his work in June, and that’s been followed up by three more dazzling starts in July, yet Haren hasn’t even hit double digits in wins yet.
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At least he’s finally to nine.
Haren threw seven scoreless innings, giving up four hits and never letting a runner past second base as the Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 3-2 on Saturday night at Chase Field to regain sole possession of first place in the NL West.
But as it always seems to happen after Haren leaves a game, the outcome became hairy.
Brandon Lyon gave up two runs in the ninth before stranding runners on the corners by getting Matt Kemp to fly out to right field.
“Absolutely, (Haren) should (have more wins),” Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. “His ERA, his internal numbers are off the charts. He’s as good a pitcher as anybody in the National League.”
Haren jumps to third in the National League in ERA at 2.58 and improves his record to 9-5.
The win is Haren’s first in nearly a month.
“Wins and losses, they come in spurts,” Haren said. “I go out there and I try to give my team the best chance to win possible. If I do that, I’ve done my job. There’s nothing more I can do.”
The Diamondbacks scored a pair of first-inning runs on a solo home run by Conor Jackson and an RBI double from Chad Tracy.
Stephen Drew added a two-out RBI single in the fourth for a 3-0 lead.
Jackson is hitting .471 (8-for-17) in four games since being moved to the second spot in the lineup.
He also made a spectacular running catch in the fifth inning to rob Kemp of extra bases. Jackson has moved to left field from first base to give Chad Tracy the ability to play every day.
“Did you guys have any doubt about that catch?” Jackson asked a group of reporters.
“Did you?” he was asked back.
“I’m going to take the fifth on that,” a smiling Jackson said.
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