![]() Arizona's Stephen Drew tags out Detroit's Magglio Ordoñez as he tries to stretch a single into a double in the first inning of the D-backs' 4-3 victory Friday.
MATT YORK / ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Byrnes finally breaks outLeft fielder ends monthlong slump with homer, 2 RBIs
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.17.2008
PHOENIX — Eric Byrnes lined out to left field in his first at-bat Friday night and finally felt good about his swing.
Byrnes broke out of a monthlong slump with a homer and two RBIs, Dan Haren pitched seven innings, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Detroit 4-3 to hand the slumping Tigers their fifth straight defeat.
Byrnes homered in the fifth — his first since April 21 — and added a run-scoring single during the Diamondbacks' decisive three-run seventh to finish 2 for 3.
"It's nice to contribute," Byrnes said. "We've been winning games, which has made it a lot easier going through a prolonged slump like that. I'm fortunate to have a supportive manager and supportive teammates. But it was a rough few weeks. I'm not going to lie about that."
In his first at-bat, Byrnes hit two line drives foul down the left field line before hitting a third liner that Gary Sheffield caught.
"I really didn't care what the results were," Byrnes said. "I just felt I was going to have a good day at the plate. It's a feeling I haven't had in a while."
Haren (5-2) scattered six hits and allowed three runs for the Diamondbacks, who came back from a 3-1 deficit with three runs in the seventh en route to their fourth straight victory. They scored the go-ahead run on a two-out throwing error by third baseman Carlos Guillen.
Haren struck out four and did not walk a batter for the second time this season.
Juan Cruz struck out the side in the eighth, and Tony Peña pitched the ninth for his fourth career save in his first opportunity of the season.
"We got contributions from everyone in the bullpen on a night we didn't have our top guys available," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said.
Miguel Cabrera hit his seventh home run, and Magglio Ordoñez had three singles for the Tigers, who managed six hits.
Justin Upton and Chris Snyder walked to start the seventh against Jeremy Bonderman, who allowed just three hits in six-plus innings before tiring and giving way to Zach Miner (1-3).
Byrnes, mired in a 6-for-62 slump entering the game and benched after an 0-for-8 start to the homestand, greeted Miner with a sharp single to left, scoring Upton to cut the Tigers' lead to 3-2.
Snyder was thrown out at third on Augie Ojeda's bunt, and Miner struck out pinch hitter Miguel Montero before Chris Young singled to left-center, scoring Byrnes to tie the game at 3.
"No excuses," Miner said. "I fell behind Young there and got myself back into the count. I threw not too bad of a pitch out there, but 3-2 he's obviously looking for a heater. I should have gotten ahead of him."
Bobby Seay came on for Miner and got Stephen Drew to hit a grounder to third, but Guillen's throw to first was low and wide and skipped past Cabrera for an error, allowing Ojeda to score for a 4-3 Arizona lead.
"We didn't play right," Guillen said. "How do you expect to win if you don't play right?"
Upton's walk came after his foul popup down the left field line fell untouched with three Detroit players within a foot of the ball.
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