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Tracy's pinch-hit double gives D-backs 6-4 win

By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer
Saturday, September 27, 2008

PHOENIX -- Chad Tracy's pinch-hit double drove in two runs in the eighth inning Friday night and gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a 6-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Justin Upton drove in three runs with a homer and a triple for the Diamondbacks, who were eliminated from playoff contention with a loss in St. Louis on Thursday. Stephen Drew hit a solo homer for Arizona. Arizona's Dan Haren failed in his bid for his 17th victory of the season.

The right-hander entered the seventh inning with a 4-3 lead but the Rockies tied it on consecutive doubles by Clint Barnes and pinch-hitter Joe Koshansky.

Colorado's Jason Grilli (3-2) retired the first two hitters in the eighth, then Miguel Montero lined a double off the wall in left. Jeff Salazar walked on four pitches to bring up Tracy, who doubled down the right field line.

Haren gave up four runs, three in the first inning, and eight hits, striking out nine in seven innings.

Colorado manager Clint Hurdle was ejected by umpire Ron Kulpa in the seventh. Hurdle, tossed for the second time this season, was upset that Troy Tulowitzki was called out trying to steal second.

Juan Cruz (4-0) pitched a scoreless eighth to get the victory. Chad Qualls threw a perfect ninth for his sixth straight save since being named Arizona's full-time closer.

The last of the Rockies' first-inning runs came under curious circumstances.

Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe had RBI doubles off Haren in the first, then Garrett Atkins bunted. Montero, the catcher, threw out Atkins at first, but Haren failed to cover home, allowing Hawpe -- on second when the play began -- to score.

Upton's 430-foot homer off the batter's eye in straightaway center cut it to 3-1 in the fourth, then Drew's 426-footer onto the porch in left-center made it 3-2 in the fifth.

David Eckstein followed Drew's homer with a double down the left field line.

Matt Herges relieved starter Jason Hirsh and gave up a single to Conor Jackson that advanced Eckstein to third. Adam Dunn popped out to bring up Upton, who lined a shot to the left-center gap for a standup triple.

Hirsh allowed three runs and five hits in 4 1-3 innings in his first major league start off the season.

Notes: Hurdle's other ejection this season was April 8 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. ... Colorado LF Matt Holliday was a late scratch with a stiff lower back. Arizona CF Chris Young was out with a sore knee. ... The Diamondbacks need to split their final two games to finish the season at .500.

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