Arizona @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( May 12, 2013 ) Philadelphia 4, Arizona 2

Time is running out for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who complete their 10-game road trip with a three-contest set against the Philadelphia Phillies beginning Friday. Arizona dropped three of four to Cincinnati, including a 2-1 setback Thursday which dropped them seven games behind the Reds for the final wild-card spot in the National League. The Diamondbacks are 15-15 since the All-Star break when they led Los Angeles by 2 1/2 games in the NL West, but trail the Dodgers by 9 1/2 with 36 to go.

Arizona, which took two of three from NL Central-leading Pittsburgh to start their excursion, will not get a breather in Philadelphia. The Phillies dropped out of sight by losing 18 of their first 23 games following the break, but have won four of five and are 4-3 under interim manager Ryne Sandberg. Philadelphia defeated Colorado 5-4 on Thursday for its second straight walkoff win over the Rockies, with Michael Young tying Thursday's contest after delivering the game-ending hit Wednesday.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN (Arizona), CSN (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (9-8, 3.56 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cole Hamels (5-13, 3.61)

Miley hasn't lost in five starts (3-0) after recording his second straight no-decision in a 4-2 victory in 16 innings over Pittsburgh on Sunday when he yielded two runs and seven hits while striking out eight in eight innings. The 26-year-old, who has won five of his last six decisions, has allowed more than three runs only once in his last 14 outings. Miley is 4-6 with a 3.23 ERA in 15 road starts - 2-3 with a 2.36 ERA in his last nine.

Hamels has pitched well since the beginning of July, compiling a 3-2 record and 2.05 ERA in nine starts with eight walks and 55 strikeouts in 66 innings. The 29-year-old allowed two runs and seven hits while striking out eight in seven innings, but not receive the decision in Philadelphia's 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Hamels is 4-2 with a 3.42 ERA in eight starts against Arizona with Most Valuable Player candidate Paul Goldschmidt 0-for-5 against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arizona leads the major leagues with 27 victories in one-run games against 16 losses.

2. Phillies C Carlos Ruiz had three hits Thursday and is 10-for-16 in his last five games.

3. Diamondbacks 2B Aaron Hill went 2-for-4 on Thursday, one day after his 13-game hitting streak came to an end. He is hitting .379 since July 25.

PREDICTION: Phillies 3, Diamondbacks 2