• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Haren faces Peavy as D-Backs meet Padres

Aug 25, 2008 - 1:18 PM Arizona (68-62) at San Diego (48-82) 10:15 pm EDT

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The last time Dan Haren and Jake Peavy faced each other, the anticipated pitcher's duel never materialized.

However, the two aces get another shot Monday when the Arizona Diamondbacks face the San Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game series.

On Wednesday, the Diamondbacks pulled out an 8-6 victory, but Haren (14-6, 3.12 ERA) didn't make it easy. He struggled through a six-inning stint but won for the seventh time in eight outings, surrendering five runs and a season-worst 11 hits.

Meanwhile, Peavy (9-9, 2.84) lost for the third time in four starts, allowing the most earned runs he has all season. The 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner gave up six runs and six hits in five pedestrian frames.

Haren has given up 17 runs over his last four starts, but thanks to 31 runs of support in that span, he is 3-1. Peavy, however, has gotten 12 runs from the Padres in that stretch.

The Padres were swept by the Diamondbacks in the three-game set last week, beginning a seven-game losing skid. Four of those seven loses have come by two runs or less.

They stand 20 games behind Arizona in the NL West and own the second-worst record in the league next to the Washington Nationals (46-85).

Posting a 7-3 record over the last 10 games, the Diamondbacks have built a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the division.