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Phillies-Diamondbacks Preview

Apr 24, 2010 - 5:58 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Philadelphia (10-5) at Arizona (6-9), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel called Nelson Figueroa a serviceable pitcher when the two-time defending NL champs picked up the veteran off the waiver wire earlier this month.

With their pitching staff getting roughed up in the series opener, the Phillies are likely hoping Manuel underestimated the 35-year-old right-hander with his assessment.

Making his first start in a Phillies uniform in nine seasons, Figueroa will try to help the NL East leaders even the series with the host Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.

Figueroa spent the last two seasons with the New York Mets but was designated for assignment April 5.

"He's got good command and he knows how to pitch," Manuel told the Phillies' official website after the team acquired him two days later. "We wanted a guy who could build our pitching up."

After going 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in three relief appearances, Figueroa gets the start after left-hander J.A. Happ joined right-hander Joe Blanton (strained left oblique) on the disabled list Thursday with a left forearm strain.

Acquired by the Phillies in the July 2000 deal that sent Curt Schilling to the Diamondbacks, Figueroa went 4-5 with a 3.94 ERA in 19 appearances for Philadelphia in 2001. His last start with the team was Aug. 31, 2001, against the Montreal Expos.

Philadelphia (10-6) could use a strong start by Figueroa after giving up five homers in Friday's 7-4 series-opening loss. Cole Hamels struck out seven but was tagged for a career-high four home runs.

"They can hit the fastball," Hamels said.

The Diamondbacks (7-9), whose home run total Friday was one shy of their franchise record, will try to give similar support to right-hander Ian Kennedy (0-1, 5.65), who is looking for his first victory since his major league debut Sept. 1, 2007, while with the New York Yankees.

Kennedy left his last start with a 1-0 lead, but the Diamondbacks' bullpen gave up five runs in the seventh inning in Sunday's 5-3 loss at San Diego. Kennedy yielded a season-low two hits in five innings.

"He was pretty effective and did his part to put us in a position to win," manager A.J. Hinch told the Diamondbacks' official website.

Kennedy will get his first look at the Phillies and former MVP Ryan Howard, who went 0 for 4 on Friday and is batting .208 with no homers and six RBIs in the last 11 games.

After missing Wednesday's 9-4 loss to St. Louis with a sore right quadriceps muscle, Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds hit a solo homer Friday. Reynolds has three home runs in his last four games and is 2 for 2 with two homers lifetime versus Figueroa.

Diamondbacks second baseman Kelly Johnson had his second multihomer game of the season Friday and sixth of his career with solo shots in the fifth and seventh innings.

Arizona will try to win its first series against the Phillies since sweeping a three-game set in Philadelphia from May 28-30, 2007.