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Diamondbacks-Giants Preview

Sep 28, 2009 - 5:23 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Arizona (68-88) at San Francisco (83-73), 10:15 p.m. EDT

Jonathan Sanchez was able to stop the San Francisco Giants slump the last time he took the mound, but when he gets the ball Tuesday night, it will likely be too late to save their season.

Sanchez and the Giants try to keep their fading playoff hopes alive when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Sanchez (7-12, 4.25 ERA) faces the Diamondbacks for the second time in a week. In Wednesday's 5-2 win at Arizona, Sanchez allowed two runs and six hits over 5 1-3 innings to notch his first victory since Aug. 21 at Colorado.

San Francisco's starters were 0-3 with a 14.85 ERA as the Giants had dropped three of four leading into that game.

"He saved us," said manager Bruce Bochy, whose team hasn't been to the playoffs since 2003. "It's nice to have someone stop it for us, and Sanchez was the guy. He gave us what we needed."

Bochy's club, though, could be eliminated from postseason contention Tuesday night if it loses and wild-card leading Colorado defeats Milwaukee.

The Rockies lead the Giants (83-73) by five games with six left for both teams.

"We have to win all of our games and (the Rockies) have to lose all of their games," center fielder Eugenio Velez said following Sunday's 5-1 win over Chicago that snapped the Giants' three-game slide. "That's how we have to look at it. We have to keep playing."

Sanchez is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two home starts against the Diamondbacks this season. He did not receive a decision in a 4-3 win over visiting Arizona on Aug. 26 after giving up three runs and six hits over seven innings.

The Diamondbacks (68-88) will counter with left-hander Doug Davis (8-13, 4.09) in the opener of this three-game series. Davis went 7 2-3 innings in the Aug. 26 matchup and did not receive a decision, surrendering three runs and four hits.

Earning his first victory since Aug. 10, Davis allowed five runs and 10 hits over 7 1-3 innings to beat the Giants 10-8 last Tuesday.

The Diamondbacks dropped two of three in that set to San Francisco and have lost five of their last seven series. Arizona, though, took two of three from San Diego over the weekend.

"I'm happy we won the series," manager A.J. Hinch told the Diamondbacks' official Web site after Sunday's 7-4 win. "We've talked for a couple of weeks now (that) to finish up the season strong, we want to win series."

Arizona, which plays its final six games on the road, has lost 17 of 23 away from Chase Field.

Third baseman Mark Reynolds, second in the NL with 44 homers, is batting .240 with four home runs and eight RBIs against the Giants this season.

He is 4 for 19 with a homer and 12 strikeouts versus Sanchez in his career. Reynolds has set a major league record with 211 strikeouts this season.

Giants infielder Juan Uribe is batting .418 with three homers and 13 RBIs in his last 14 games. He hit .385 with a home run and three RBIs in the series at Chase Field last week.

San Francisco has won 10 of 15 against Arizona in 2009, taking four of six at home.