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Diamondbacks look to hand Pirates 10th straight loss

Sep 25, 2007 - 2:19 PM Arizona (88-68) at Pittsburgh (66-90) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have a prime opportunity to move closer to their first National League West Division title since 2002.

The Diamondbacks will be aim to send the Pittsburgh Pirates to their 10th straight loss when the team's open a three-game series on Tuesday.

Arizona, which leads the San Diego Padres (85-71) by three games in the NL West, has beaten Pittsburgh four of the six meetings this season, and has won four of the last five meetings here.

Doug Davis (13-12, 4.27 ERA) will try and help the Arizona reduce its magic number. But Davis has been struggling, going 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in his last three starts. The lefthander is 6-5 with a 5.05 ERA in 18 career starts against the Pirates.

Pittsburgh, which is in the midst of its 15th straight losing season, sends Ian Snell to the mound.

Snell (9-12, 3.83) has one win in his last four starts despite allowing just five earned runs in his last 27 innings. On Thursday, the righthander allowed two runs - one earned - and four hits in seven innings, but did not receive a decision in a 5-3 loss to San Diego.