Haren pitches complete game as D-Backs shut down Astros

After a pair of monumental collapses by the Arizona bullpen cost him what had appeared to be near-certain victories in his previous two starts, Dan Haren took matters into his own hands Friday night at Chase Field.

In lowering his National League-best earned-run average to 2.20, Haren pitched a complete-game two-hitter to lead the Diamondbacks to an 8-1 win over the visiting Houston Astros.

“He was in complete control and as determined as any pitcher I’ve seen in a long time,” Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said about Haren, who struck out seven and walked two in throwing his second complete game of the season and the eighth of his career.

The only two hits Haren allowed were a home run by Carlos Lee and a single by Lance Berkman, both with two outs in the fourth inning. After walking Jeff Keppinger to lead off the fifth and then issuing a base on balls to Michael Bourn to begin the sixth, Haren did not allow another base runner.

“Obviously I want to win games,” Haren said. “I’d be lying to you if I said that I didn’t want to get the Ws by my name. But that said, my job is to go out there and give the team the best chance to win. I take pride in going out there every five days and giving the team a good chance.”

Haren has allowed three runs or fewer in 12 of his 13 starts this season. In 10 of those starts, he has given up two runs or fewer.

Despite his stellar workmanship, Haren has only a 5-4 record. He allowed a total of seven runs in his four losses, but the Diamondbacks scored just two in those four games.

In his two starts prior to Friday’s victory, Haren did not receive a decision.

In Haren’s June 2 start at Dodger Stadium, he allowed a run on two hits in seven innings, leaving with a 5-1 lead. The D-backs bullpen surrendered five runs in the bottom of the eighth to lose 6-5.

Last Sunday at San Diego against the Padres, Haren allowed a run on four hits in seven innings and left with a 6-1 lead. The Arizona bullpen gave up five runs in the ninth to send the game into extra innings. The Diamondbacks eventually won 9-6 in the 18th.

On Friday against the Astros, Haren kept his pitch count low (throwing 112 pitches, 77 for strikes) and was able to go the distance.

“There was a little extra edge to him today given the last two games,” Hinch said. “I didn’t even ask him how he was doing or whether he wanted to finish. He was going out there, and he knew it. And it was good to see him have a clean ninth with no problems.”

While Haren took care of the pitching, Mark Reynolds connected for a three-run homer and three doubles to lead the Diamondbacks’ 13-hit attack on offense.

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Reynolds collected five RBIs on the night. After driving in two runs with a first-inning double against Astros starter Mike Hampton (4-5, 4.70 ERA), Reynolds teed off on a hanging curveball from reliever Brandon Backe with two outs and two runners on base in the sixth, launching his 16 th home run of the season to give the D-backs a 6-1 lead.

Chris Young, who drove in two runs in the game, followed Reynolds’ homer with a solo shot to put the Diamondbacks ahead 7-1.

Gerardo Parra, who went 3 for 4, provided the D-backs’ eighth run with an eighth-inning homer.

By: Tom Kessler
MLBcenter.com Arizona Diamondbacks correspondent

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