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D-backs try to right themselves in Minnesota

Sep 22, 2014 - 3:02 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - As if last place weren't enough for the Arizona Diamondbacks, the season is ending in some other ugly ways, too.

The Diamondbacks enter the final week having lost six straight games overall and 10 in a row on the road as they begin a three-game series with the host Minnesota Twins on Monday night at Target Field.

Arizona is four games behind Colorado for last place in the National League's West Division after the Rockies finished a four-game series sweep on Sunday in Denver. The Diamondbacks have scored 16 runs -- and allowed 41 -- in losing six in a row.

"I don't really have an explanation. We tried to throw everything at (Colorado)," manager Kirk Gibson said. "They swung the bats really well, scored a lot of runs. And we weren't swinging the bats very well, so (we we're) unable to shut them down."

Arizona lost seven in a row earlier in the month, then won three straight before the existing skid. It hasn't lost more than 10 straight on the road in four years, and is 2-18 in its last 20 away from home.

Getting the call for the D-backs on Monday will be right-hander Josh Collmenter amid a 2-1 stretch in his last five starts, while compiling a 1.01 ERA.

He allowed two runs in eight innings on Tuesday against San Francisco, but took a tough-luck 2-1 loss.

Collmenter has never faced the Twins.

Minnesota starts right-hander Ricky Nolasco after he tossed eight scoreless innings on Tuesday against Detroit, before the bullpen pitched the effort into a 4-3 loss.

He has a 1.35 earned run average in three September starts.

Nolasco was 3-0 in four starts against Arizona last season, while he pitched in Miami and for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

On Sunday in Minnesota, Corey Kluber made another case for the American League's Cy Young Award by striking out 14 batters over eight stellar innings, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 7-2 victory over the Twins.

Chris Herrmann doubled twice and drove in a run for the Twins, while Danny Santana had an RBI double in the loss.

Minnesota starter Anthony Swarzak (3-2) lasted just 4 1/3 innings, permitting five runs -- three earned -- on eight hits while walking two.

Arizona swept the Twins the last time these teams met back in 2011.