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Diamondbacks try to get back on track vs. Reds

Sep 13, 2008 - 10:11 AM Cincinnati (66-81) at Arizona (72-74), 8:10pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- During the first month of the season, everything was coming easily for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the final month, nothing is.

The Diamondbacks, who have fallen 3 1/2 games back in the National League West race, try to gain some ground when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

Arizona finally put the brakes on its six-game losing streak on Friday, but even that didn't come easily. Cy Young candidate Brandon Webb pitches a gem to earn his 20th victory, tossing eight shutout innings to rebound from three awful outings.

But his bullpen nearly gave it away, as close Brandon Lyon gave up four hits - including a two-run single by Jeff Keppinger - in the ninth as the Reds cut the deficit to one. Lyon had to be bailed out by Chad Qualls, who got the final out to preserve the win.

As it is, it's going to be a difficult road. The team can't control its destiny, as it doesn't have any games remaining against the Dodgers.

What the Diamondbacks can do, is try to beat up on some of the league's weaker teams - namely the Reds this weekend - and hope the Dodgers falter. On Saturday, they'll face one of Webb's All-Star teammates, Cincinnati righthander Edinson Volquez (16-5, 3.23 ERA), but they may be catching him at the right time.

Volquez hasn't lost since August 5, but has started to appear more vulnerable than he did earlier in the year. He has given up four runs or more in each of his last three starts - though he has registered 29 strikeouts over that same stretch.

His counterpart, Randy Johnson (10-9, 4.21) hasn't won since August 12. Still stuck at 294 career victories, Johnson has failed to pick up a win in four starts over the last month. In his last start, he was shelled by the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up five runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings.