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Slumping Diamondbacks fighting for playoff lives

Sep 14, 2008 - 7:26 AM Cincinnati (67-81) at Arizona (72-75), 4:10 p.m. EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks hope to bounce back from a devastating loss when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Cincinnati rallied for a 3-2 victory in 10 innings on Saturday as former Arizona pitcher Micah Owings delivered the go-ahead RBI double with two outs in the final frame. Owings was dealt to the Reds from the Diamondbacks on Friday to complete a previous trade involving Adam Dunn.

The loss was the 14th in the last 18 games for the Diamondbacks, who are a season-high 4 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (77-71) in the National League West. Arizona also has not won back-to-back games since it won three straight from August 19-21.

Rookie righthander Max Scherzer (0-2, 3.00 ERA) will try and turn things around for the Diamondbacks when he makes his fifth career start.

The 24-year-old allowed three runs over five innings against Los Angeles on September 7, striking out a career-high 11.

Cincinnati will try and play spoiler again and will counter with Johnny Cueto (8-13, 4.77).

Cueto has only one win since July 3 and allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs on September 6.

The young righthander should be able to bounce back against a light-hitting offense in Arizona, which has scored four runs or less in its last 10 games.