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Diamondbacks-Pirates Preview

Sep 18, 2010 - 3:46 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Arizona (59-88) at Pittsburgh (48-98), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates finished strong last year to avoid their first 100-loss season since 2001. That's probably not going to happen this time around.

James McDonald looks to extend his 17-inning scoreless streak Saturday night when Pittsburgh continues a series with the Arizona Diamondbacks in a late-season matchup of the NL's two worst clubs.

The Pirates (49-98), who won six of their final 10 games to finish 62-99 last year, snapped a four-game slide Friday with a 4-3 win in the opener. Ronny Cedeno's walkoff single plated Andrew McCutchen.

"In that situation, it's my time," Cedeno said. "I want to get an RBI, get the win."

The Pirates, who went 62-100 nine years ago, have won seven of 11 at PNC Park.

Looking for its first series win against Arizona since June 7-9, 2008, Pittsburgh continues the final homestand of its 18th straight losing season with McDonald (3-5, 4.13 ERA) on the mound. Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31, the right-hander is riding the longest scoreless-innings stretch by a Pirates pitcher this season.

After going seven innings in a 5-0 win over Atlanta on Sept. 7, McDonald went a career-high eight in Monday's 1-0, 10-inning loss at the New York Mets.

"James did a great job. Really battled," manager John Russell said of the right-hander. "He's got the stuff. ... He's able to keep his pitch count low now and when he does that, he's really grown."

In his only career start against Arizona, McDonald lasted 2 1-3 innings in a 9-4 loss on April 10, 2009.

The Diamondbacks (59-89), who have dropped 10 of 13, will counter with Barry Enright (6-4, 3.39), who is 0-2 with a 11.00 ERA in his last two starts. The rookie right-hander is looking to bounce back from a 7-2 loss at Cincinnati on Monday, when he allowed five runs over a season-low three innings.

"Balls were middle-up and my breaking ball was flat," said Enright, who has been tagged for seven homers in his last two outings after giving up eight in his first 12 appearances.

Including his time at Double-A Mobile, Enright has pitched 176 innings this season.

"My body is a little tired, but my arm feels fine," he told the Diamondbacks' official web site. "I'm probably slowing down a little bit, but that's just kind of when you show who you are."

Enright has never faced Pittsburgh.