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Pirates giving the Diamondbacks reason for concern

Sep 27, 2007 - 12:43 PM Arizona (88-70) at Pittsburgh (68-90) ,12:35 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The pesky Pittsburgh Pirates are causing a lot of problems for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Pirates will look for the sweep Thursday when they host the Diamondbacks in the finale of a three-game series.

Pittsburgh, which has already clinched its 15th consecutive losing season, took the first two games of the series against Arizona, which entered the series with a three-game lead in the National League West with less than a week remaining in the season.

The Diamondbacks' division lead has diminished to just one game over the San Diego Padres (87-71). The Colorado Rockies (86-72), who are on a 10-game winning streak, are also hanging around, just two games back.

Righthander Brandon Webb (17-10, 3.02 ERA) will get the start, hoping to end Arizona's three-game skid. The 28-year-old sinkerballer has won three straight decisions. The Diamondback ace gave up two runs and six hits with two walks and six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings in a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

The Pirates will hand the ball to Paul Maholm (10-15, 5.02), who will look to make it to the fourth inning for the first time this month. In two starts this September, the lefthander has been tagged for 17 runs - 16 earned - and 21 hits with just four strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.

Rookie Nyjer Morgan, who was called up on September 1, is on a seven-game hitting streak and has gone 12-for-27 with his first career home run over that stretch. Morgan is batting .289 with six RBI in his limited experience this year.