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Jun 29, 2009 - 6:34 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Arizona (30-46) at Cincinnati (37-37), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Cincinnati Reds are among the worst hitting teams in the majors. Winning consecutive games behind strong offensive showings might help to begin changing that.

The Reds will attempt to continue their hot hitting Tuesday night when they open a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Cincinnati (37-37) owns a .247 batting average. However, the club collected 15 hits in Sunday's 8-1 win over Cleveland, completing a 3-3 road trip. That victory came a day after the Reds had 13 hits in a 7-3 victory, and it was three days after they had 15 in a 7-5 win at Toronto snap a four-game losing streak.

"The guys are starting to swing," Reds manager Dusty Baker told the team's official Web site. "We knew they could hit. We're just looking for some consistency so we can get rolling. Hitting is contagious."

Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Jonny Gomes each have driven in four runs over the last four games.

Brandon Phillips had three hits and three RBIs to celebrate his 28th birthday Sunday after going 2 for 22 over the previous six games. The second baseman has hit .377 with four homers and 14 RBIs in his last 13 games against the Diamondbacks (30-46).

Phillips keyed a three-game sweep in Arizona from May 11-13, collecting six hits and eight RBIs as the Reds hit .333 and outscored the Diamondbacks 26-9. Cincinnati has won 11 of the last 13 meetings.

Phillips is 3 for 9 with two homers off Dan Haren (6-5, 2.25), the Diamondbacks' scheduled starter Monday.

Haren will try to help the Diamondbacks end a season-high five-game slide after they fell 12-8 to the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. They last dropped six in a row Sept. 5-10.

The NL's ERA leader didn't get much help in his last trip to the mound Wednesday, allowing two runs and four hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings of a 2-1 loss to Texas. Haren had gone 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA in his previous five starts.

"I know it's a broken record, but I go out to give the team the best chance to win. I go out with a plan, and I work hard in between starts, and I go out and execute that plan," Haren told the Diamondbacks' official Web site. "Wins and losses, I put that aside. I'm very proud of the way I have pitched my first 15 starts, and if I can have another 20 or 18 starts like that, I'd be very happy at the end of the year."

Haren gave up three runs and six hits, including a homer to Phillips, in seven innings of a 3-1 loss to the Reds on May 12. The right-hander fell to 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA in five games - four starts - against them.

Cincinnati will turn to Bronson Arroyo (8-6, 5.54), who has been inconsistent through five starts this month, going 1-3 with a 6.51 ERA.

Arroyo was hit hard Wednesday, allowing seven runs and eight hits - three homers - in 3 2-3 innings of an 8-2 loss at Toronto.

On Sunday, Arroyo revealed he's been bothered by carpal tunnel syndrome and will have surgery on his right wrist in the offseason. A cortisone shot has enabled him to continue pitching.

"I'm worried about it all the time," said Arroyo, who has had soreness since 2004 and been forced to give up his favorite hobby of playing the guitar. "It's gotten to the point where it's sore whenever I do anything."

Arroyo got his first career win over the Diamondbacks on May 11 in a 13-5 victory despite allowing five runs and 10 hits, including three homers. He had been 0-2 in six games against them.