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Phillies-Diamondbacks Preview

Aug 12, 2015 - 6:24 AM Paced by a two-game offensive barrage, the Arizona Diamondbacks are in position to surpass the .500 mark for the first time in almost four months.

They can do so by recording their first home sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies in 15 years Wednesday.

One night after Arizona (56-56) pounded out 17 hits during a 13-3 rout of Philadelphia, it had 10 alone while scoring 11 times in the second inning of Tuesday's 13-1 victory. It's the second time the Diamondbacks have scored 13 or more runs in consecutive games.

"Very impressive,'' said Arizona manager Chip Hale, whose team has won 12 of the last 17 games. ''A good game plan, and they executed and kept it going."

Arizona, which has recorded 47 hits and batted .486 with runners in scoring position during a three-game winning streak, last sported a winning record while sitting 8-7 on April 23.

David Peralta, whose grand slam highlighted the second inning, is 12 for 20 with 10 RBIs in the last five games.

''It feels good when you do something to help the team win," Peralta said. "We are doing really well right now.''

Rookie Yasmany Tomas went 4 for 6 in the series before leaving with tightness in his left calf Tuesday.

While Tomas' status going forward is uncertain and the Diamondbacks roughed up Philadelphia's Aaron Harang and David Buchanan for 19 runs and 23 hits in seven innings of the first two games, they get their first look at Aaron Nola (2-1, 3.65 ERA).

The right-hander has been solid through his first four career starts but needed to grind Friday when he gave up three runs, six hits and walked two but struck out six on 99 pitches through six innings of a 4-3, 12-inning victory at San Diego.

Philadelphia (45-69), which had won 16 of the previous 21 games heading into this series, was last swept at Arizona in April 2000. Perhaps making matters worse is the uncertain status of talented third baseman Maikel Franco after he suffered a bruised wrist when he was hit by a pitch Tuesday.

''It wasn't broken, so that was good news,'' manager Pete Mackanin said. ''It looked bad. It sounded bad. I thought for sure it was broken but fortunately it wasn't.''

Veteran Chase Utley, meanwhile, cleared waivers and is eligible to be traded. San Francisco, the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be interested in the second baseman, who is expected to be rested Wednesday after batting .412 in five games since missing more than a month with an ankle injury.

"I do love Philadelphia," Utley told MLB's official website. "I've had a great time playing here, but out of respect for them I would definitely listen to (trade offers)."

The Phillies will try to bounce back against Chase Anderson (5-4, 4.10), who hopes to build on a strong effort Friday when he came off the disabled list from a triceps problem to allow four hits and strike out seven in seven innings of a 2-0 victory over Cincinnati.

"My arm feels good," Anderson said after missing almost three weeks. "I'm healthy, and that's the main key. I felt really good and just pleased to get back out there and compete and help this team win games."

In his only appearance against the Phillies on May 15, the right-hander gave up a run in 5 1-3 innings while not factoring in the decision of a 4-3 loss.