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Rangers-Diamondbacks Preview

Jun 24, 2009 - 5:34 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Texas (37-31) at Arizona (29-41), 9:40 p.m. EDT

The Arizona Diamondbacks have to like their chances Wednesday night with Dan Haren on the mound.

He'll try to extend his interleague winning streak to nine games when the Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers continue a three-game series at Chase Field.

Haren (6-4, 2.23 ERA) is 11-2 with a 2.90 ERA in his career in interleague play, including 8-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his last nine outings. That includes a 4-0 mark with a 2.83 ERA in five interleague starts with Arizona.

The right-hander has also been one of the best pitchers in baseball over his last five starts overall, going 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA. He has won consecutive outings, including Thursday's 12-5 victory at Kansas City as he allowed two runs over seven innings.

"I had good stuff," Haren said. "It really starts with the offense. I've had plenty of runs the last couple of times out and it really made it pretty easy for me. I just went after the guys."

Haren has plenty of experience against the Rangers during his days with Oakland from 2005-07. He's 3-4 with a 4.50 ERA in nine starts versus Texas.

Texas third baseman Michael Young is 11 for 28 (.393) with six RBIs in his career against Haren.

The Rangers will try to avoid a season-high sixth straight loss after falling 8-2 on Tuesday. Texas, which is playing without injured slugger Josh Hamilton, has scored 12 runs during the losing streak.

"Obviously we've hit a speed bump and the players know that," general manager Jon Daniels told the Rangers' official Web site. "But I'd much rather talk about an offensive slump than the pitching issues we've had to deal with in the past."

Texas (37-32) had held sole possession of first place in the AL West for 48 straight days, but is now tied atop the division with the Los Angeles Angels.

Arizona (30-41) ended a three-game slide as Justin Upton homered, doubled and drove in three runs. Felipe Lopez added three hits and three RBIs as the top three hitters in the Diamondbacks' lineup went 8 for 13 with seven RBIs.

Upton, who opened the season in a 1-for-17 slump, raised his average to .324. He has 14 home runs, 17 doubles and 45 RBIs.

"I'm happy for him," Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said. "He's a legitimate three-hole hitter in the major leagues."

Arizona center fielder Chris Young was scratched from Tuesday's starting lineup with a groin strain. Gerardo Parra replaced Young, who could be headed for the disabled list.

Vicente Padilla (5-3, 4.79) looks to win a third straight decision for Texas. He didn't get one Thursday against Houston after giving up three runs over six innings in a 5-3 loss.

The veteran right-hander is still 6-1 with a 4.45 ERA in his last 10 interleague starts.

Padilla is 3-3 with a 5.18 ERA in six career starts against Arizona from 2002-05 while pitching for Philadelphia.