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Diamondbacks-Pirates Preview

Sep 19, 2010 - 4:22 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Arizona (59-89) at Pittsburgh (49-98), 1:35 p.m. EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't swept a three-game series in more than four months. They have never swept three games from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

With Zach Duke likely pitching for his spot in the rotation, Pittsburgh gets the chance to accomplish both feats Sunday afternoon.

After snapping a four-game skid Friday with a 4-3 victory, the major league-worst Pirates (50-98) tagged Diamondbacks pitching for 12 hits in Saturday's 9-6 win. John Bowker and former Diamondback Chris Snyder each went 3 for 4 in Pittsburgh's highest-scoring game of the month.

"We didn't pitch very well tonight but we had several opportunities on the other side, too," said Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson, whose team has lost 11 of 14 to clinch its second consecutive last-place finish in the NL West. "We battled back, but I think guys are frustrated right now."

The Pirates, meanwhile, have won eight of 12 at PNC Park and will go for their first three-game sweep since May 4-6 versus the Cubs. Duke (7-14, 5.78 ERA) will try to help the Pirates complete their first three-game sweep of Arizona since that franchise's 1998 inception.

After going 0-2 with a 22.85 ERA in his last two starts - he didn't make it out of the second inning of Tuesday's 9-1 loss at the New York Mets - Duke was in danger of being removed from the rotation. The left-hander, though, impressed manager John Russell enough during a bullpen session on Thursday to earn another start.

"The kid has worked hard," Russell told the Pirates' official web site. "We'd like to give him the opportunity to work some things out. He went into the bullpen today and worked on a better tempo, arm speed and looked really good. Hopefully, that's something he can build off of going into his next start. It's more Zachish."

Duke, who has allowed 20 runs in his last four outings, allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings of a 6-3 win at Arizona on April 10. He evened his record at 3-3 lifetime against the Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks (59-90) will counter with Daniel Hudson (6-1, 1.67). The 23-year-old right-hander goes for another quality start after striking out eight and giving up four hits in eight shutout innings of Tuesday's 3-1 win at NL Central-leading Cincinnati.

Hudson has surrendered three runs or fewer in all nine starts since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox on July 30.

"Being able to get into a groove has been great," he said. "Right now, my confidence is high."

This will be the first time Hudson faces the Pirates, who need a victory to win the season series against Arizona for the first time since 2005.