Third baseman Mark Reynolds has a new two-strike approach this season, although he did not let the count get that deep in his pivotal at-bats Monday.
Reynolds homered for the third time in six games and also had an RBI double when the Diamondbacks scored more runs in the space of four batters (three) than they did in their entire weekend series in San Francisco. He homered on a 2-0 pitch in the second inning and doubled on a 1-0 pitch in the fourth before walking on a full-count pitch in the fifth, when catcher Miguel Montero hit his first home run of the season to cap a four-run inning.
With two strikes, Reynolds is trying to shift his weight without striding forward, keeping both feet in place in the batter's box. It is the kind of stance that worked well for former Houston first baseman Jeff Bagwell.
"It's just a minor change ... not getting homer happy, just stay in the middle of the field and put more balls in play and see what happens," Reynolds said. "I tried it early in the spring and it was really working for me. I just decided to do it. I worked on it pretty hard in 'BP' (batting practice) and it felt good. It's something that I'm going to continue to do."
In an all-or-nothing season, Reynolds led the D-backs with 28 homers and 97 RBI in 2008, his first full year in the majors, while setting a major league record with 204 strikeouts.
"Obviously, I take pride in what I do. I'm not up there to strike out or swing for the fences," he said. "I want to be more of a complete hitter. I think with this approach, hopefully I'll follow through with it and I'll be more consistent."
DIAMONDBACKS 6, ROCKIES 3: C Miguel Montero capped a four-run fourth inning with a three-run home run and 3B Mark Reynolds hit his third homer of the season as the D-backs broke out of an offensive funk with 10 hits. RHP Jon Garland won his first career start against Colorado.
