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Diamondbacks struggling at the wrong time

Sep 9, 2008 - 1:25 PM Arizona (71-72) at San Francisco (63-80), 10:15 p.m. EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have picked the wrong time to play some of their worst baseball of the season.

Arizona hopes to snap a four-game losing streak when it continues its three-game set with the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.

The Diamondbacks, who have lost 11 of their past 14, were defeated, 6-2, in the opening game of the series and trail the Los Angeles Dodgers (73-71) by 1 1/2 games in the National League West Division. The loss also dropped Arizona below .500 for the first time since July 23.

The biggest problem for Arizona has been its offense, which has scored two runs or less in nine of its past 14 contests.

Doug Davis (6-8, 4.58 ERA) hopes to get more run support when he toes the rubber for the Diamondbacks. The lefthander allowed three runs over six innings in his last outing but did not factor in the decision against St. Louis last Wednesday.

The Giants will counter with Barry Zito (9-16, 5.45), who has pitched better over the second half of the season since an 0-8 start.

Zito allowed two runs over eight innings at Colorado last Wednesday to pick up his third win in his last four starts. The 30-year-old has struggled against Arizona, however, going 0-3 with a 7.40 ERA in four starts against the Diamondbacks this season.