Arizona @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 23, 2013 ) Arizona 3, Philadelphia 4
The Arizona Diamondbacks are limping toward the end of their 10-game road trip - and could be doing irreparable damage to their flickering postseason hopes. The Diamondbacks look to snap a three-game slide on Saturday when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies in the middle contest of a three-game series. Arizona watched as a two-run lead evaporated in Friday's 4-3 loss - with Chase Utley drawing a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning as Philadelphia notched its third consecutive walk-off win.
The setback prevented the Diamondbacks from chipping away at their seven-game deficit behind Cincinnati in the race for the second wild card in the National League. The Phillies' postseason plans were scrapped after their abysmal showing following the All-Star break, but they have won five of their last six. Carlos Ruiz, who ripped a two-run double in the sixth inning, is batting a blistering 12-for-20 in his last six contests.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSAZ (Arizona), CSN (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Randall Delgado (4-4, 3.82 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Ethan Martin (2-2, 5.23)
Delgado suffered his first loss since July 8 after permitting five runs on seven hits in six innings in a 5-3 setback to the Reds on Monday. The 23-year-old Panamanian has struggled to keep the ball in the park - having allowed six homers in his last four outings. Delgado had yielded seven blasts in his previous nine trips to the mound.
Martin evened his record after four starts following a two-run, four-hit performance versus Colorado on Monday. "I felt like I was able to slow things down, be patient and just go at it," the 24-year-old Martin said after the victory. Martin, who has yet to face the Diamondbacks in his young career, has yielded at least one home run and multiple walks in all four outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona RHP J.J. Putz will be placed on the disabled list with a dislocated pinky finger on Saturday, the team announced.
2. Speaking of ailing pitchers, Philadelphia rookie RHP Jonathan Pettibone will miss the remainder of the season with inflammation in his right rotator cuff.
3. Diamondbacks INF Martin Prado, who ripped a two-run double on Friday, is 32-for-87 with 21 RBIs in August.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 4, Phillies 0