Byrnes hit a two-run home run to put the D-Backs ahead in the fifth inning, helping Owings join Brandon Webb as two of the four-game winners in the major leagues in a 4-2 victory over San Francisco Monday at Chase Field.

Qualls got two outs by throwing one pitch to the only batter he faced, getting Fred Lewis to ground into a double play with runners on first and second and one out in the seventh inning. That one pitch preserved a one-run lead that was extended with Orlando Hudson's homer in the bottom of the seventh.

"Throwing a sinker, you have an ability to get a ground ball. I just try to make my pitch and hope he hits a ground ball at somebody," said Qualls, who has four double plays in 10 appearances.

He has a 0.00 ERA in a start he embraces on two fronts.

"I wanted to come over here and show everybody what I could do … that I'm one of the better guys out there for a setup guy. I wanted my teammates to know they could have faith in me. That's more important than anything, the respect of my teammates."

The D-Backs (14-5) extended the best start in franchise history, own the best record in the majors and already have a five-game lead in the NL West while going 13-3 in the division.

Byrnes, whose homer was his third and made it 3-2, said he will begin re-growing the mustache he shaved when his 14-game hitting streak ended Sunday.

"I don't think it's an aberration the way we are playing," Byrnes said. "We like to say we don't have any superstars in here. There are a lot of future superstars."

Owings, 4-0, made his fourth consecutive quality start while beating the Giants for the second time in six days. He also singled and scored ahead of Byrnes' homer.

"I feel my stuff is better than it has ever been," said Owings, whose ERA dropped to 2.42. "I'm going to keep mixing and enjoying it."

"Micah's been the key to our success," Byrnes said.

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