• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Diamondbacks-Padres Preview

Aug 26, 2010 - 6:12 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Arizona (49-78) at San Diego (76-49), 6:35 p.m. EDT

As they pursue their first division title in four years, the San Diego Padres probably wish they could keep playing the Arizona Diamondbacks at home.

Unfortunately for the Padres, they won't host the Diamondbacks after Thursday, when they will try to complete a sweep and finish a perfect 9-0 against last-place Arizona at Petco Park.

The Padres (76-49) are 27 games above .500 since their pennant-winning season of 1998 and have won 13 of 16, in the process increasing their NL West lead over San Francisco from one game to a season-best 6 1/2.

San Diego scored all its runs in Wednesday's 9-3 victory during the first four innings. Adrian Gonzalez had a three-run homer - his fourth home run in seven games - while veteran Miguel Tejada added a two-run shot.

San Diego will give the ball to Kevin Correia (10-8, 4.82 ERA), who is 3-0 with a 2.63 ERA in four career starts at Petco versus the Diamondbacks. The right-hander has earned two of those wins this season but is coming off his shortest outing since the All-Star break.

Struggling to command his off-speed pitches, Correia gave up five runs over 4 1-3 innings during Saturday's 6-5 loss in Milwaukee, ending a personal three-game win streak.

"I didn't have real great off-speed stuff tonight," he said. "I can usually get away with that because my fastball is pretty good, but all the balls they hit were on off-speed pitches."

Arizona (49-78) has lost nine of 12 to drop a season-low 29 games below .500.

The club will now try to help Ian Kennedy (7-9, 4.41) earn his fifth win in nine starts, which would also prevent a fourth straight loss for the Diamondbacks.

The right-hander couldn't follow up one of his victories Friday night as he allowed a career-high 10 hits in a 4-3 win in 10 innings over Colorado. He also got on the wrong side of catcher Miguel Montero, who told the team's official website that Kennedy wouldn't stick to the game plan.

"We weren't on the same page -- he was in a different game," Montero said. "It got to the point where I don't even know what to call. I was almost like, 'All right, throw whatever you want, and I'll try to receive it.' ... We got a game plan, and everything changes when we cross the line? That can't happen. We need to get better communication, and we work together better."

Stephen Drew provided the Diamondbacks a bright spot in Wednesday's loss, homering twice and adding a pair of doubles. He could have a tougher time Thursday, as he is 8 for 41 with five strikeouts against Correia.

San Diego is trying for its seventh straight home victory The Padres are 38-22 at Petco.