Arizona @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( May 15, 2010 ) Arizona 11, Atlanta 1
With a lengthy losing streak now in the rearview mirror, the Arizona Diamondbacks are hoping to start streaking in a positive direction.
The Diamondbacks will be aiming for a series win today when they face the Atlanta Braves in the rubber match of a three-game set.
Arizona's offense looked awful during its losing streak, managing a total of 15 runs in seven straight setbacks. But the tide turned on Saturday, when the Diamondbacks reached the Atlanta pitching staff for 11 runs and 13 hits.
Stephen Drew and Justin Upton each had three hits, including a homer apiece, and Kelly Johnson, who had gone without a blast during the slide, hit his 11th in the ninth inning to tie Los Angeles' Andre Ethier for the National League lead.
Another staple of the Diamondbacks’ losing ways has been sub-par pitching, especially from the bullpen. But after the relief corps combined to allow three runs in blowing a lead Friday, Rodrigo Lopez took them out of the equation with his longest start since April 14, 2006.
The veteran Lopez lasted eight innings, scattering seven hits, and was lifted only after Arizona rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth.
Atlanta had its four-game winning streak snapped Saturday, managing just one run after totaling 34 during their streak.
Martin Prado and Jason Heyward combined to go 0-for-8 from the top two spots in the lineup while Chipper Jones, Brian McCann and Eric Hinske tallied one hit each.
Atlanta did get some good news when starting shortstop Yunel Escobar was activated prior to the contest after spending the last 15 days on the disabled list with a strained muscle. Escobar went 0-for-3 with a walk Saturday.
The Braves will send right-hander Tim Hudson to the mound today. Some questioned Atlanta's decision to sign Hudson to a three-year, $28 million contract in the offseason since the veteran was coming off Tommy John surgery and managed to pitch in only seven games in 2009.
But Hudson has answered the call so far, allowing three runs or less in each of his seven starts and two runs or less six times. He picked up a win at Milwaukee on Tuesday despite issuing six walks, allowing one run and six hits in six innings.
Hudson has never lost to the Diamondbacks, owning a 4-0 career mark with a 1.61 ERA in six starts.
Arizona will counter with ace Dan Haren. Like the rest of the staff, the right-hander has not been as sharp so far this season as in the past. The perennial Cy Young contender has had two starts where he has allowed five earned runs or more.
Haren is coming off a loss against the Dodgers in which he allowed four runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. He has managed to miss bats when he needs to, however, ranking second in the majors with 60 strikeouts.
Haren has had mixed results against Atlanta in the past, owning a 3-1 record despite allowing 15 runs and 30 hits in 25 innings over four starts.