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Diamondbacks fight for playoff lives against Rockies

Sep 21, 2008 - 6:39 AM Arizona (77-77) at Colorado (71-84), 3:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks could take some notes from the Colorado Rockies.

In desperate need of a winning streak akin to the Rockies' surge last September, the Diamondbacks look to continue their push toward a playoff spot as the teams meet on Sunday.

Thanks to Stephen Drew's two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, Arizona earned a 5-3 victory on Saturday. The win kept the Diamondbacks within 3 1/2 games of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. The Dodgers defeated the Giants in a late game on Saturday.

In the opener, Jorge De La Rosa tossed six strong innings and Garrett Atkins collected three hits and an RBI as the Rockies hung on for a 3-2 triumph.

Dan Haren (15-8, 3.24 ERA), who is coming off a four-hitter against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, takes the mound for Arizona.

Haren, acquired from the Oakland Athletics in the offseason to complement Brandon Webb atop the rotation, has been tremendous, but has failed to keep the Diamondbacks from scrambling to enter the playoff picture. His pedestrian August didn't help matters either.

Prior to the shutout against the Giants, he was winless in four straight starts and allowed 13 runs in 21 innings over that span.

Haren is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA against the Rockies this season.

Colorado counters with Greg Reynolds (2-7, 7.42), who surrendered seven runs and nine hits over two dismal innings against the lowly San Diego Padres on Monday.

The Diamondbacks finish the season against the Rockies after completing a four-game set with the St. Louis Cardinals, which begins Monday.