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Diamondbacks-Pirates Preview

Aug 5, 2009 - 4:06 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Arizona (47-59) at Pittsburgh (45-60), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Arizona Diamondbacks sent one pitcher to this season's Midsummer Classic, but their entire staff must look like All-Stars to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After the Diamondbacks limited the Pirates to one hit in the series opener, Doug Davis looks to shut them down for the second time in two weeks when he takes the ball at PNC Park on Wednesday night.

Entering Tuesday's game at Pittsburgh (45-61), Arizona's Yusmeiro Petit had a 1-5 record but he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and combined with Leonel Rosales on a one-hitter in a 6-0 win. Ronny Cedeno broke up the no-hit bid with a single after Ramon Vazquez led off the eighth with a walk.

"Obviously, their guy pitched a great game," Pirates manager John Russell said. "We were fortunate, I think, to get one hit."

Pittsburgh was shut out for a major league-worst 13th time, including four in the last 10 games. Three of those have come against the Diamondbacks (48-59), who have thrown 28 consecutive scoreless innings versus the Pirates.

In a four-game series at Arizona from July 23-26, Pittsburgh was blanked in the final two contests, and Diamondbacks All-Star Dan Haren wasn't on the mound either time.

Davis (5-10, 3.73 ERA) struck out eight in six innings of a 7-0 win over the Pirates on July 25, then Max Scherzer - Thursday's scheduled starter - fanned eight in seven innings of a 9-0 win in the finale. Pittsburgh is batting .147 in its last three games against Arizona.

After beating the Pirates, Davis allowed two runs and four hits in six innings of Friday's 3-2 win over the New York Mets, but didn't get the decision. Davis, second in the majors with 68 walks, issued a season-high six against the Mets but worked his way out of jams.

The Diamondbacks have won three of the left-hander's last five starts after winning two of his previous 12.

Arizona has won three straight and five of six overall.

Mark Reynolds had another strong night at the plate Tuesday with three hits, but failed to homer for just the second time in eight games.

Ryan Roberts made up for it by doubling his season total with two home runs, and he finished with a career-high four hits. Roberts, 8 for 13 with three homers in three games against the Pirates, is batting .474 in four games this month.

The Diamondbacks have totaled 23 runs and 46 hits in August, but they could have trouble staying hot at the plate against Pittsburgh's Ross Ohlendorf (9-8, 4.43).

Ohlendorf has yielded three runs or fewer in six of his past seven starts, and has been at his best at home. The right-hander is 4-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his last five starts at PNC Park, and the Pirates have won nine of his last 10 there as he's gone 7-1 with a 3.02 ERA.

Ohlendorf beat Washington at home on Friday, permitting two runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 5-4 win.

He lost to Davis two weeks ago in Arizona, allowing three runs and six hits in six innings.