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Diamondbacks-Padres Preview

Jun 4, 2009 - 6:26 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Arizona (23-31) at San Diego (25-28), 10:05 p.m. EDT

Chad Gaudin had trouble finding the strike zone against Arizona late last month. When he did, the Diamondbacks made him pay for it.

Gaudin's most recent outing was considerably better, and the San Diego Padres will look for a repeat performance Friday night as Gaudin seeks redemption against Arizona at Petco Park.

San Diego (25-28) is scoring 3.9 runs per game, worst in the NL. Its starting pitching hasn't been able to compensate for the punchless offense, posting a 4.69 ERA that's in the bottom third in the majors.

Gaudin (2-3, 4.76) has been perhaps the most inconsistent member of the rotation, and that's been especially evident in his past two starts. The right-hander was roughed up by the Diamondbacks on May 25, giving up five hits, five walks and seven runs over 5 1-3 innings, though he was let off the hook in San Diego's 9-7, 10-inning comeback win.

Six days later in Colorado, Gaudin turned in his best start of the season. Gaudin has issued 26 walks in 33 1-3 innings coming in but didn't walk anyone against the Rockies, yielding two runs - one earned - over 6 1-3 innings while striking out nine in a 5-2 win.

"I really put it in my head and focused on it (getting ahead in the count) and not trying to be too perfect," Gaudin told the Padres' official Web site. "I really wanted to dial it in and get ahead of hitters and attack."

San Diego could use a boost from Gaudin, whose win against Colorado is the Padres' lone victory in their last six games. They were limited to six hits Wednesday in a 5-1 loss to Philadelphia, the finale of a three-game sweep.

San Diego's sputtering lineup suffered a blow earlier that day as outfielder Scott Hairston - hitting a team-high .327 - was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left biceps.

"It's going to hurt us to a certain extent," Black said. "We need guys to pick up the slack."

Doug Davis (2-6, 3.65) will counter for Arizona, and he opposed Gaudin in the May 25 slugfest. The left-hander gave up five hits and four runs - two earned - in 7 1-3 innings that day.

He was solid again Saturday against Atlanta, allowing two runs over seven innings while striking out six. That wasn't enough to get him his first victory since April 29, though the Diamondbacks went on to win 3-2 in 11 innings.

"The guys came back and picked me up big-time," said Davis, 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in six starts at night. "You can't ask for any more."

Davis is 5-1 with a 2.40 ERA in his last seven starts against San Diego.

He'll need more run support than Arizona (23-31) came up with Wednesday if he's going to end his three-game skid. Jon Garland and two relievers allowed one run in the Diamondbacks' finale against the Dodgers, but that was enough to give Los Angeles a 1-0 victory.

"Plenty of chances," manager A.J. Hinch said. "We put ourselves in a good position to score and then just couldn't execute at the end. The clutch hit wasn't there for us."

Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton is batting .526 (10 for 19) with two homers and six RBIs against San Diego this season.