Two-hit game could be spark for Owings

SAN FRANCISCO -- D-backs second baseman Chris Owings collected two hits Friday night, almost matching his season total coming into the game, and he hopes it's the start of good things to come.

"A lot of good stuff happened last night," Owings said Saturday of the D-backs' 9-0 win over the Giants. "It was one of those nights to kind of get out there and relax a little bit. I put a lot of pressure on myself and I just kind of watched guys have some good ABs and just tried to do the same thing and not try to do too much up there."

Owings entered the game hitting .103 (3-for-29), and if it were a stretch like that in the middle of the season, it would not have drawn nearly as much attention as it does when it happens to open a season.

"We knew he could hit," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "He knows he could hit. He never let it bother his defense, which is huge for me and the team. Hopefully that'll get him going a little bit numbers-wise. But he's had good at-bats and he's going to keep battling."

Owings said when he battled Jake Peavy for a walk in his first at-bat he was feeling more comfortable at the plate and that he could be in for a good night.

The 23-year-old missed half of last season with a left shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. To try to limit the stress he places on the shoulder, Owings has switched from a one-handed finish to his swing to keeping two hands on the bat.

"I feel like the swing hasn't been the problem," Owings said. "I feel like just trying to do too much has been the main thing."