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Harang tries to avoid third straight lose in finale with D-Backs

May 8, 2011 - 2:51 PM (Sports Network) - Aaron Harang couldn't have gotten his Padres career off to a better start, but the honeymoon with his hometown club appears to be coming to a close.

Harang looks to avoid a third straight loss today when San Diego concludes a three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park.

The right-handed Harang gave up just five earned runs and zero homers over a season-opening four-start winning streak, but has since allowed 12 runs and five homers in consecutive losses. Harang is also coming off his shortest outing of the season on Monday versus Pittsburgh, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks over just five innings.

Harang, who turns 33 on Monday, has a 4.37 earned run average over his six starts and is 2-4 with an excellent 1.73 ERA in 10 career games versus the Diamondbacks, all but one of those starts.

Arizona starter Joe Saunders is also hoping a trip to San Diego will net him his first win of the season. Though 0-3 with a 5.67 ERA in six starts overall, he has a 2.25 ERA in two road outings with an 0-1 record.

The left-hander picked up a no-decision at home versus the Rockies on Tuesday, yielding three runs on six hits and three walks over six innings. Saunders has allowed less than three runs in just two of his starts this season.

Saunders, 29, has split four career starts against the Padres to go along with a 4.78 ERA.

The Padres snapped a four-game losing streak to the Diamondbacks with an extra-innings victory on Friday, but were shut out for the eighth time this season in Saturday's rematch. Arizona's Daniel Hudson tossed seven scoreless innings of five-hit ball and Justin Upton backed his starter with a two-run homer to help the Diamondbacks to a 6-0 victory.

Ryan Roberts added three hits and scored three times as Arizona won for the fourth time in six games.

"We weren't exactly scoring too many runs when I was on the mound. I kept saying it was going to even out in the end," said Hudson. "The guys are starting to swing the bat a little bit better, throwing some runs up there early, and getting me comfortable out there."

The same could be said for Padres starter Dustin Moseley, who gave up six runs over five innings. It marked the fourth time in his seven starts that San Diego failed to score a run.

"I wasn't ahead in the counts, throwing first-pitch strikes, like I have in previous starts and that's what hurts you," said Moseley. "They have a nice lineup over there. They have some power throughout, so if you make mistakes they're going to whack it."

Some of that power could be missing today for Arizona after shortstop Stephen Drew left in the third inning after aggravating a right groin injury. He is unlikely to play today.

It is unknown if Drew's injury will alter D-Backs manager Kirk Gibson's plan to give second baseman Kelly Johnson the weekend off as he attempts to work out of a season-long slump. Johnson did not appear in yesterday's game.