Colorado's Jonathan Herrera slides safely into home under and around the tag of Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder. The run was the Rockies' first.

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PHOENIX — Micah Owings has made headlines with his bat, but he can pitch, too.

Owings threw six shutout innings as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-3 Wednesday night, extending their domination of the defending NL champions and the NL West.

"He's becoming a more complete pitcher, spinning the ball pretty aggressively," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "We were able to extend some counts and work his pitch count up, but he was out there battling."

The only downside for Owings: He went 0 for 3 to drop his batting average 47 points, to .370. He was called out on a grounder to third base in the sixth despite appearing to beat the throw.

"No comment," Owings said.

Brandon Lyon earned his 10th straight save, and Orlando Hudson hit a two-run double for the Diamondbacks, who have won seven of eight games against Colorado this season, after being swept by the Rockies in the NL Championship Series last fall.

The Diamondbacks improved to a major-league-best 25-15 — including 19-5 against the NL West — and dropped the Rockies 10 games back in the division race.

"We've got to see them about a hundred more times, so it's going to come down to the wire," Hudson said.

The Rockies will face 8-0 Brandon Webb tonight as they try to avoid a three-game sweep.

"You're going to have times when things are going easy, and you're going to have times when they are tough," Rockies right fielder Brad Hawpe said. "So with that being said, things are going tough."

Hawpe had a chance to tie the game in the ninth after Lyon gave up two-out singles to Todd Helton and Garrett Atkins. But Lyon retired Hawpe on a pop to third base to earn his 11th save in 13 chances.

Lyon had blown a save in a 5-2 victory at Colorado on April 6, and that may have been going through the Diamondbacks' minds as the Rockies mounted their late rally.

"It was a no-doubter," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said with a smile. "It was in the bag. Felt good about it. Helton and (Matt) Holliday, and Hawpe and those guys, they've never hurt us before. Lyon made big pitches, though."

Arizona's latest victory came while Owings (5-1) limited the Rockies to five hits in six innings, with two walks and five strikeouts. Melvin lifted him after 100 pitches.

"He was spent," Melvin said. "He was losing his command a little bit there right at the end with 100 pitches. But typical Micah — he has to make a pitch, he does."