If I'm Lyon I'm Dyin' - Reds 6, DBacks 5

Lyon Walks Off With Loss

Oh so close the D-Backs came to starting the season 2-0. Dan Haren made his first start for Arizona and looked sharp. He ran into a little trouble in the 4th inning, but helped himself at the plate with a double, a run scored and an RBI.

Justin Upton got his first hit of the season and gave us a glimpse of what life would be like if he'd just make contact with the ball. I'd love to see him start hitting well enough to become the lead-off hitter. How fun would that be? Especially with a more mature and patient Chris Young following him in the batting order. Young went 1-2 with a double and 3 walks and scored 2 runs. Stephen Drew had a home run and a double. Eric Byrnes seems to still be pressing too hard at the plate, something I thought he did in the playoff series against the Rockies.

It's weird. It's like most of the players picked up their streaks right where they left off after losing to the Rockies last October.

The Diamondbacks had the bases loaded with 2 out in the top of the ninth but failed to plate a run. Timely hitting for the most part still seems to be escaping this team. Still, it was good enough to win the game, but Brandon Lyon couldn't close the deal tonight. Lyon came into the game in the bottom of the 9th with a 5-3 lead but gave up hits to Brandon Phillips and Adam Dunn before surrendering a walk off 3-run homer to Edwin Encarnacion on a 1-2 pitch.

Conor Jackson left the game early and was taken to the hospital with shortness of breath. He has been diagnosed with possible pneumonia.

Interesting game note: Jose Valverde blew a save the second game of the season last year, too. (h/t AZ Snakepit)

Final Thoughts: Okay, it's only one game. Lets not make a habit of it.