ESPN MLB

DENVER (AP) -- Banished to the minor leagues late last season and blasted by his manager, Shawn Chacon came all the way back Friday.

	Chacon

Chacon retired the first 16 batters, and the Colorado Rockies got a home run from Chris Stynes to win their home opener, 2-1 over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Chacon (1-0), allowed one run and two hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked none.

"This is probably the best one for me," Chacon said about where this game ranked. "I had command of all my pitches. To come out in the home opener and pitch seven strong innings and win a 2-1 game in this ballpark is huge. This is one I won't forget.

"I couldn't have asked for a better outcome than what we had today."

The Diamondbacks didn't have a baserunner until one out in the sixth, when Chad Moeller's flyball to deep right-center fell beyond the reach of Larry Walker and Preston Wilson for a double.

Chacon retired the next two batters to preserve his shutout, but he lost it in the seventh when Steve Finley led off with a 422-foot homer.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about the no-hitter," Chacon said. "Pitchers know when they give up hits and when they've got something good going. I thought about it, but I kept telling myself it doesn't matter, what matters is getting a 'W.'"

Chacon, sent to Triple-A last Aug. 23 after going 5-11 with a 5.73 ERA, was criticized by manager Clint Hurdle and wasn't recalled in September. But he earned his way back into the rotation with a strong spring. It was his first win since July 19.

"I was surprised to get the nod for the opening day start here," he said. "As far as the way I pitched, I wasn't surprised. Considering what happened last year, there's a lot that I want to prove this year, and today was the first step in doing that."

Todd Helton had RBI single for the Rockies against former Arizona closer Byung-Hyun Kim (0-1). Kim moved to the rotation this season after closing the past two years.

Todd Jones pitched a perfect eighth, and Jose Jimenez pitched the ninth for his first save. Jimenez, who surrendered five runs in the ninth in the Rockies' 8-7 loss to Houston on Wednesday, gave up a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Carlos Baerga but worked out of trouble, striking out Junior Spivey for the final out.

In four games this season, the Diamondbacks are hitting .156 and have scored only six runs.

"Conditions had a lot to do with today," Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. "I mean, a total of eight hits and three runs -- that's usually an inning here. It was extremely cold, and the wind was blowing.

"We didn't hit a lot of balls hard, and the balls we hit we hit right at people. Chacon just pitched a great game for them."

The Rockies threatened early off Kim. Wilson doubled with one out in the second and stole third, but he was stranded when Jose Hernandez struck out and Charles Johnson flied out.

Stynes also was stranded at third in the next inning. He led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second and went to third on a groundout. But Kim retired Jay Payton on a flyout.

Stynes put the Rockies ahead 1-0 in the fifth with his first home run.

"I got a 3-2 count, and he's not looking to walk me," Stynes said. "I got a good fastball to hit. With the wind blowing in, he challenged me, and I don't blame him. I really didn't think it would go out because of the wind."

The Rockies added a run in the sixth. Payton led off with a double and scored on Helton's single. Walker was hit by a pitch, chasing Kim, but Oscar Villarreal averted further damage, retiring the next three batters.

Kim, making his second career start, allowed two runs and five hits in five-plus innings.

Game notes
The Diamondbacks formally released LHP Greg Swindell, allowing him to sign with any team. Swindell, 38, was designated for assignment last Saturday as the team finalized its opening-day roster. ... Rockies RHP Jason Jennings, the NL's Rookie of the Year in 2002, was honored in a pregame ceremony. ... Kim's only previous start also was at Coors Field, on Sept. 26, 2000, when he allowed four runs in 2 1-3 innings of a no decision. ... The Rockies drew 48,087, a sellout. They distributed 50,622 total tickets, a Coors Field record in the regular season. ... At 2 hours, 13 minutes, it was the fourth-shortest nine-inning game in Coors Field history.