When outfielder Adam Dunn arrived, the Diamondbacks inserted him in the cleanup spot and have watched their offense take off.
The D-backs have scored 38 runs in their six games since obtaining Dunn from Cincinnati on Aug. 11, even after being shut out by Roy Oswalt on Sunday, although Dunn was loath to take credit. "I think it's coincidental. These guys are a lot better on offense than people give them credit for," said Dunn, whose 32 home runs are one off the major league lead.
Dunn has hit safely in five of his first six games with the D-backs entering Monday's off day. He was hitting .286 with a .464 on-base percentage, and he reached base five times in an 11-5 victory at Houston on Saturday, on two hits and three walks. His first inning single drove in the first run.
"He takes a lot of pressure off everybody in the lineup," manager Bob Melvin said. "We're deeper, and it's made our lineup tougher to navigate. He hasn't hit multiple home runs, but that's coming."
Dunn has two doubles and three RBIs, and had his first stolen base with his new team, and his first since April 9, when he swiped second Saturday.
He was in the middle of three big innings recently, getting a two-run single in a five-run fifth at Colorado on Thursday, walking in a three-run first at Houston on Friday and singling in a five-run first Saturday.
"He has a terrific eye. Even when he is not hitting, he's on base," Melvin said. "Those things are very impactful. He makes everybody a better hitter with his presence."
ASTROS 3, DIAMONDBACKS 0: LHP Randy Johnson made a quality start for the seventh time in his last eight outings Sunday but suffered his first career defeat to Houston when LF Ty Wigginton hit a three-run home run with two outs in the first inning. Johnson had been 4-0 in six career starts against the Astros. SS Stephen Drew had the D-backs' only two hits, singles off RHP Roy Oswalt in the third inning and RHP Jose Valverde in the ninth, and also walked. C Chris Snyder was the only other baserunner after walking in the third, but he was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from second on Drew's single to right field.
INSIDE EDGE: It remains to be seen how the D-backs will juggle their personnel when OF Justin Upton returns from a rehab assignment this week, but it is a good bet that OF Adam Dunn will spend some time at first base. That could mean fewer at-bats for 1B Chad Tracy and 1B Tony Clark. Tracy is averaging an RBI every 5.8 (34/198) at-bats. Clark is averaging an RBI every 3.7 at-bats (11/41) with the D-backs.
