A CLOSER LOOK

• Summary: Rodrigo Lopez, trying to put his 18-loss 2006 season behind him, won his first start for the Rockies thanks in big part to Matt Holliday's four RBIs against the Diamondbacks. • Hero: Lopez pitched seven strong innings in his Rockies debut, allowing just two runs -- one earned -- and striking out five while walking none to get the win. width=65> height=90 align=right alt="Rodrigo Lopez"> Lopez • Figure this: Arizona reliever J.D. Durbin's ERA stands at 94.50 after giving up seven runs in the eighth on seven hits in his first big league appearance since Sept. 23, 2004. • Did you see that? Newly hired University of Colorado men's basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik threw out the ceremonial first pitch. • Elias Says: Durbin lasted only two-thirds of an inning in his first big-league appearance since 2004. Over the last 25 years (since 1983), only one other reliever made a season debut in which he was charged at least seven runs while pitching less than an inning. -- ESPN.com news services

Rockies 11, Diamondbacks 4

DENVER (AP) -- Rodrigo Lopez turned to the power of positive thinking as he tried to forget about last season and his major league-leading 18 losses.

All offseason, he concentrated on one thing: winning.

"My mind-set was get a win," the Rockies pitcher said.

The approach worked as Lopez allowed six hits in seven innings for his first victory since last Aug. 17 as the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-4 on Wednesday.

Matt Holliday backed him with four hits, including his first home run of the season, and four RBIs.

Lopez's confidence needed a boost in his Rockies debut after he lost his final six decisions last year. Acquired from Baltimore in January for two minor league pitchers, Lopez (1-0) viewed the trade as a new beginning, and he gave up two runs -- one earned -- struck out five and walked none.

"I know I'm capable of doing this," said Lopez, who threw just 76 pitches. "Being on a different field, in a different uniform, your mind is fresh. You forget about what you've done in the past. You want to be here."

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle never would've guessed this was a pitcher who struggled so much last season that he was moved to the bullpen.

"He pitched very well," Hurdle said. "Big first step for him."

Holliday provided all the offense Lopez would need. He had an RBI double in the first, hit a homer in the seventh off Juan Cruz and added a two-run single in the eighth.

After going 0-for-5 in Monday's opener, Holliday had two hits Tuesday night before the big day Wednesday.

"I wasn't changing my approach or anything like that," Holliday said. "I just had one bad game."

Colorado led 4-2 before breaking open the game with seven runs in the eighth off J.D. Durbin, who gave up seven hits in his first big league appearance since Sept. 23, 2004. He left with a season ERA of 94.50.

"I think it's a tribute to a bunch of good hitters, and if you've got a pitcher not making his pitches, this lineup can hurt you," Holliday said.

Arizona manager Bob Melvin couldn't believe what he saw in the eighth.

"We were kicking it around, throwing it around and just not playing very well, and it got out of hand at the end," he said.

Yorvit Torrealba and Jamey Carroll each had three hits and Garrett Atkins and Todd Helton added two hits apiece. Helton also drove in two runs.

Doug Davis (0-1) made his Arizona debut and allowed three first-inning runs -- all unearned due to two errors by first baseman Conor Jackson. Davis lasted five innings, allowing eight hits and five walks with six strikeouts.

"The bottom line was I got outpitched," Davis said. "The five walks are inexcusable. It can't happen again."

Eric Byrnes led off the second with a home run that hugged the left-field foul pole. Byrnes had two hits and finished the three-game series with seven hits and four RBIs.

After Carroll drew a one-out walk in the first, Davis had him picked off first base. But when Jackson ran at Carroll in the middle of the basepath, Carroll crouched down and Jackson sailed by, missing the tag. Carroll scampered back to first.

Jackson also lobbed the ball over the head of third baseman Chad Tracy after cutting off a throw home on Helton's RBI single to center, allowing another run to score.

"You don't win many games playing defense like that," Melvin said.

Lopez knows he'll win plenty more games if he pitches the way he did Wednesday, keeping the ball low and mixing his sinker and cutter.

"I feel pretty good about myself," he said.

Game notes
Colorado's Jeff Baker had a double in the eighth for his third straight pinch hit of the season. ... Reliever Jeremy Affeldt rolled both ankles warming up on the mound in the ninth and faced one batter. "I think he rolled the one planting and in trying to set himself rolled the other one," Clint said with a grin. "It's a left-handed thing."