Arizona @ San Diego preview
Petco Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 16, 2010 ) Arizona 3, San Diego 6
The Arizona Diamondbacks' bullpen is in need of relief.
After playing in two extra-inning games to close out the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Diamondbacks' bullpen allowed six runs in the final three innings of Friday’s loss to the San Diego Padres.
As the season’s second week nears an end, the Arizona 'pen needs a break.
So the Diamondbacks turn to Kris Benson, who has pitched just 22 1/3 innings in the big leagues – all with the Texas Rangers last season – after undergoing rotator cuff surgery in 2006.
The 35-year-old Benson was signed in spring training as insurance when it became clear former Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb wouldn’t be ready.
Benson won the fifth-starter spot after Kevin Mulvey and Billy Buckner struggled in spring training. The right-handed Benson was called up from Triple-A Reno after the first overall pick of the 1996 draft allowed two unearned runs in five innings in his first start. He gave up four hits, walked one and struck out while topping out at 90 mph.
It means the Diamondbacks' bullpen is almost assured of needing to go extended innings on Saturday against a Padres’ offense that has been beaten up Arizona’s relief corps in their four games this season.
The veterans – Bobby Howry, Aaron Heilman and Chad Qualls - have been throttled in days and might need a mental break more than anything, but that might not be possible for all three with Benson on a relatively low pitch count.
San Diego counters with right-hander Kevin Correia, who lost his first start of the season to the Diamondbacks. He bounced back nicely against the Atlanta Braves for the win in his second outing.
The Padres have gone 1-2 in the first three series of the season, so winning the opener in dramatic fashion – Chase Headley hit a three-run, walk-off home run in a 6-3 win – might be the boost they need.
San Diego's bullpen was the polar opposite of the Diamondbacks’ relievers in Friday’s action. The Padres tossed four scoreless innings to allow the offense a chance to overcome the early deficit.
Headley, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and shortstop Everth Cabrera have hit the Diamondbacks well in the early going.