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Webb, Diamondbacks aim for consistency

Jul 8, 2008 - 1:52 PM Arizona (44-45) at Washington (34-56) 7:10 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Brandon Webb and the Arizona Diamondbacks open up a three-game set with the lowly Washington Nationals on Tuesday.

Arizona has struggled over the past few weeks and has gone 0-4-1 in its last five series, posting a 5-11 mark during that span. The Diamondbacks dropped two out of three to the San Diego Padres over the weekend and have fallen into a first-place tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West

A trip to Washington may be just what Arizona needs as the Nationals come in losers of five straight games and hold the worst record in the majors.

Webb (12-4, 3.43 ERA) will take the mound for the Diamondbacks with hopes of becoming the league's first 13-game winner. The righthander, who gave up five runs in six innings to Milwaukee in his last outing on Thursday, could be joined in that category Tuesday by Joe Saunders of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Webb faced the Nationals on May 31 and threw a complete game shutout, striking out eight during Arizona's 4-0 victory.

Washington will counter with Odalis Perez (2-5, 3.78) on the hill. The lefthander did not factor in the decision in his last outing, giving up two runs over 6 2/3 innings in the Nationals' 4-2 loss to the Florida Marlins.