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Webb looks to snap skid vs. Reds

Sep 12, 2008 - 10:13 AM Cincinnati (66-80) at Arizona (71-74) 9:40 p.m. EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- It wasn't long ago that Brandon Webb seemed like a lock to win his second Cy Young Award. Now he'd probably be happy just to make it through six innings.

Webb will be looking to snap a personal three-start losing streak while helping the Arizona Diamondbacks snap a six-game slide on Friday against the Cincinnati Reds.

Sitting pretty at 19-4 with a 2.74 ERA on August 21, Webb (19-7, 3.41 ERA) has fallen off a cliff over his last three starts, going 0-3 while posting a 12.51 ERA and allowing opponents a .361 average.

The righthander's fall has coincided with that of the Diamondbacks, who owned a 4 1/2-game lead in the National League West as recently as August 29, but now sit 3 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (75-71). Webb's last two losses have both been against the Dodgers.

The Reds have traditionally been a good matchup for Webb, who owns a 5-2 record with a 2.84 ERA against them in nine career starts, including an Opening Day win this season on March 31.

Arizona's offense has been a big part of the problem, averaging 2.9 runs per game in their last 10 losses.

Cincinnati will counter with its own struggling ace, Aaron Harang (4-15, 5.18). The veteran righthander is 1-6 with a 7.16 ERA since earning a win against the Boston Red Sox on June 13.

Part of Harang's problem has been his tendency to give up home runs, having surrendered 17 in his last 55 1/3 innings and 31 this season. He suffered the loss against Webb on Opening Day.