Coming into the season, Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren was well aware of Chase Field's reputation, and he wondered just how he would handle pitching half his games in a hitters' park.

Through five starts, Haren hardly could be doing better. The right-hander, whom the Diamondbacks acquired in a trade with Oakland, is 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA in a ballpark that has produced the second-most offense in the National League this season.

"Coming into the year, I thought pitching at home would be tough," Haren said. "I know the ball flies pretty good here. I think every pitcher likes pitching at home, and I think here has been no different."

Haren said he always has focused on keeping the ball down in the strike zone, and he believes that focus might be ratcheted up when he pitches at Chase Field.

"I think every pitcher that comes in here needs to focus more on keeping the ball down and hitting the spots," he said. "I don't know if that has something to do with it, but I've been able to keep it down for the most part. I've made a couple of mistakes and given up a few home runs."

Haren, who starts tonight against Detroit as interleague play begins, has given up just two home runs in 32 2/3 innings at home.
Jackson out; Byrnes sits
Manager Bob Melvin had two of his regulars out of the lineup Thursday night, as first baseman Conor Jackson and left fielder Eric Byrnes were on the bench.

Jackson was out because of a sore right hamstring that has bothered him since he tripled Sunday in Chicago. Before that, Jackson had experienced discomfort in his right quad, Melvin said.

Melvin said the injury wasn't so bad that Jackson couldn't play and that he expected to have him back in the lineup today.

With Byrnes in the middle of brutal slump - he is 6 for 62 (.097) in his past 15 games - Melvin wanted to give him a chance to clear his mind. It sounded as if Byrnes might be out of the lineup today, too.

Melvin thought Byrnes could benefit from "a little separation, hopefully a little bit of a distance to process some things."

Byrnes went 0 for 8 in the first two games of the Colorado series.
Clutch performer
With Jackson out of the lineup, the Diamondbacks were without their best hitter with runners in scoring position.

Jackson leads the team with 32 RBIs and has the club's highest batting average (.405) with runners in scoring position. He is 15 for 37 in those situations.

"RBIs, I think, is the most important stat as a hitter, without a doubt," he said, noting that he doesn't pay as much attention to his batting average or on-base percentage because they fluctuate throughout the season.

Jackson thinks he might do better than most in those situations because he doesn't swing and miss often.

"I feel like I can put any ball in play," he said. "That's helps you when you get to two strikes."
Short hop
Broadcaster and former Suns player Dan Majerle will take batting practice with the Diamondbacks before today's game.


Author: Nick Piecoro
Source: The Arizona Republic