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Diamondbacks-Padres Preview

Jul 18, 2010 - 5:47 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Arizona (34-56) at San Diego (52-37), 4:05 p.m. EDT

The San Diego Padres' starting pitching has struggled lately. The team's offense hasn't.

The NL West-leading Padres will try to win six straight over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the first time Sunday when the teams conclude their three-game set at Petco Park.

San Diego (53-37) leads the majors with a 3.24 ERA, but its starters have a 6.04 ERA in the last eight games. Luckily for the Padres, though, their usually light-hitting offense has stepped up with 15 home runs and 7.4 runs per game in their last seven contests. San Diego equaled a season high with four home runs in Saturday's 8-5 victory, its sixth straight home win over Arizona.

"Even though we would like to see (the pitching staff) continue at the pace they had in the first half, it's sort of not realistic to think you can do that all season," said Tony Gwynn Jr., who became the second player in team history with two inside-the-park homers in one season. "They carried us in the first half and now we're trying to take the load off their shoulders."

Adrian Gonzalez has been a catalyst for the Padres' scoring surge. The All-Star first baseman is batting .433 (13 for 30) with four homers and eight RBIs in his last eight games. He homered for the second consecutive game Saturday to join Dave Winfield and Nate Colbert as the only players in franchise history with five seasons with at least 20 home runs.

Before beginning a six-game trip Tuesday in Atlanta, San Diego will go for the sweep with Kevin Correia (5-6, 5.26 ERA) on the mound. The veteran right-hander, who is looking for his first victory since May 31, did not earn a decision in a 10-8 loss at Colorado on July 9, striking out a season high-tying eight while surrendering five runs in five innings.

Correia is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in two starts against Arizona this season. He went 5 2-3 innings and gave up three hits in a 5-0 home win over the Diamondbacks on April 17.

After falling a season-high 19 1/2 games behind San Diego, the Diamondbacks (34-57), who have lost nine of 11, are hoping Edwin Jackson (6-7, 4.92) can help them salvage the finale.

Looking to win his fourth straight start, the right-hander allowed five runs in five innings of an 8-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on July 7. It was Jackson's first defeat since May 28.

"It's just one of those days where you make pitches and they get hit," he told the Diamondbacks' official website. "Sometimes the ball rolls your way sometimes it doesn't."

It has gone Jackson's way on the road, where is 3-1 with a 1.33 ERA in his last five starts. In his last outing outside Arizona, Jackson threw a no-hitter in a 1-0 victory against Tampa Bay on June 25.

Jackson threw six scoreless innings of three-hit ball in a 6-3 loss at Petco Park on April 16.

Padres third baseman Chase Headley, who is 2 for 5 lifetime versus Jackson, is batting .433 with two homers and eight RBIs against Arizona this season.