Pinch-Hitting Pitcher Keys Arizona Rally

Owings' 2-run homer knots game at 7; D-Backs reach 20 wins

By Jesse Andrews, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 30, 2008 10:22 PM CDT

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Pinch-Hitting Pitcher Keys Arizona Rally — Houston Astros' Carlos Lee (45) high-fives third base coach Ed Romero (16) after hitting a three-run home run. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Pitcher Micah Owings' pinch-hit homer tied the game in the sixth and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied from four runs down to beat the Houston Astros 8-7 on Wednesday. Owings, 4-0 as a starter and arguably the best-hitting pitcher in the game, hit the first pitch of the game from reliever Dave Borkowski to the opposite field seats.

It was a two-run shot with two outs that tied it at 7-7. Chris Young followed with a double, then scored the go-ahead run on Eric Byrnes' single. Arizona (20-8) became the season's first 20-game winner, a franchise-record 19 of them in April. Arizona won its eighth series out the last nine. (Read more baseball stories.)