Cincinnati @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2010 ) Cincinnati 11, Arizona 7
Since arriving via trade, Joe Saunders hasn’t exactly enjoyed the type of success that he or the Arizona Diamondbacks were hoping for at this point.
Saunders, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels in a deal for Dan Haren, will try to get on track in the National League when he takes the ball as Arizona looks to avoid a three-game sweep when they battle the Cincinnati Reds in Thursday’s rubber match.
The Reds secured a wild 11-7 comeback win on Wednesday thanks to in part to eight runs over the final two frames. Jay Bruce went 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs and Jim Edmonds added a solo shot and scored the go-ahead run in the ninth on Chris Heisey’s bunt single.
The Reds, who took the opener a day prior with a 6-2 triumph, have won five straight and seven in a row at Chase Field.
Cincinnati continues to capitalize on the reeling St. Louis Cardinals, who dropped their fourth straight to fall three games back of the first-place Reds in the NL Central.
Arizona, which owns the second-worst record in the NL, will just be hoping to get any wins it can. As will Saunders (7-12, 4.48 ERA).
The veteran left-hander is set to make his fifth start with his new club, attempting to grab a second win after going 1-2 in that span.
After tossing a gem against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 3 in a complete game effort, Saunders has fallen back to Earth by surrendering nine earned runs and 18 hits over his last two appearances.
Travis Wood (3-1, 2.65 ERA) will be searching for his fourth straight win when he toes the rubber for the Reds.
After going winless over his first tarts this season, the 23-year-old has turned things around of late. Over his past three starts, he has allowed a total of five runs in those wins.
It has helped that the Reds have backed him up offensively, with Wood getting 25 runs of support in that span.
In his last outing, Wood surrendered three earned runs over 6 1/3 innings in an 11-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. He has never faced the Diamondbacks in his career.
Arizona’s bullpen faltered in Wednesday’s setback as Sam Demel and Aaron Heilman both surrendered four earned runs apiece in 2 2/3 combined innings as the club lost for the fifth time in six contests.