D-Backs notebook: Hernandez has one request

SAN DIEGO - Livan Hernandez had an easy answer when the Diamondbacks asked him to pitch tonight on three days’ rest.

Reynolds has 5 RBIs to help D-Backs regain NL West lead

Read Jack Magruder's Inside Baseball blog

“I never say no to nothing about pitching,” he said.

Hernandez does have one request as his career moves forward, however.

He would like to pitch with his half-brother, Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, who is anchoring the New York Mets’ rotation down the stretch, and he understands that his pending free agency this offseason may provide the best chance.

“It’s something I want to do before he retires,” said Hernandez, 32, adding “I’m going to try to play eight, 10 more years.”

El Duque, 41, is under contract with the Mets through 2008.

“I would be very excited if something happens. We want to play together,” Livan said.

The two were to play together with Montreal in 2003, but El Duque suffered a shoulder injury in spring training that required season-ending surgery.

“That doesn’t count,” Livan said.

BREAKING OUT

Chris Young has 15 home runs since the All-Star break, tied with Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard for the most in the major leagues. Ryan Braun, Jermaine Dye, Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez have 14.

Chris Snyder is hitting .320 with 10 doubles, four homers and 20 RBIs since play resumed on July 13, and Conor Jackson is hitting .328 with 12 doubles, six homers and 20 RBIs since July 19.

“I’m trying to get hot the second half. The first half (.268), that wasn’t me,” Jackson said.

“I want to show I belong here, and I feel like I have a lot to prove.”

MICAH AND MADDUX

Micah Owings grew up in Georgia watching Atlanta play, and he called it an “honor” to pitch in the same game with Greg Maddux on Wednesday.

“I have the utmost respect for him,” Owings said after giving up one hit in seven innings while not receiving a decision in a 3-1 loss.

“You are talking about one of the best ever. I have a lot of respect for the way he plays the game and the way he conducts himself.”

For their part, the D-Backs have come to admire the way Owings competes.

“I saw it when I was on rehab last year” in Tucson, said Tony Clark, who was privy to a conversation between Owings and a member of the coaching staff.

“We were playing two seven-inning games, and they wanted to take him out in the sixth inning. He wouldn’t come out. He said ‘I want to finish what I start.’

“He’s a bulldog. He’s an athlete who happens to pitch.”

SHORT HOPS

The D-Backs are mulling an addition to the 40-man roster – they stand at 39 – when rosters expand for games Saturday. A top candidate appears to be Tucson left-hander Bill Murphy, who is 2-3 with a 3.63 ERA and has 98 strikeouts in 94 1/3 innings. Murphy had a 2.64 ERA in his last five starts for the Sidewinders entering a scheduled start Thursday after spending most of the season in the bullpen. …

Since May 22, Colorado is 50-38, the best record in the NL and a half game better than the D-Backs (50-39).