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Diamondbacks seek first win without Byrnes

May 28, 2008 - 1:43 PM San Francisco (21-31) at Arizona (30-22) 9:40 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) - The Arizona Diamondbacks try to earn their first win without emotional leader Eric Byrnes on Wednesday when they continue a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.

The Diamondbacks dropped the series opener, 6-3, on Tuesday just hours after Byrnes was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain.

The 32-year-old left fielder has struggled this season - the first of a three-year, $30 million contract extension signed last season. Byrnes is batting just .219 with six homers and 23 RBI and has gone a woeful .143 (13-for-91) with a .188 on-base percentage since April 27.

Jeff Salazar went 0-for-3 but scored a run while starting in place of the injured Byrnes on Tuesday. Salazar and the rest of the Diamondbacks look for an improved offensive performance when they face Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez (2-3, 4.39 ERA).

Sanchez allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, walking three while striking out five but did not factor in the decision during last Wednesday's 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Doug Davis (2-1, 2.70) toes the rubber for Arizona. The lefthander picked up the win in his first outing since returning from surgery to remove a cancerous thyroid during his last start.