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Diamondbacks trying to make late push

Sep 22, 2008 - 1:58 PM ARIZONA (78-77) AT ST. LOUIS (80-75), 8:15pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- At the very least, the Arizona Diamondbacks are making things interesting.

Thought to be effectively out of postseason contention when the Los Angeles Dodgers surged ahead this month, the Diamondbacks have won six of seven to pull to within 2 1/2 games of the Dodgers (81-75) in National League West.

Though there are no more head-to-head meetings between the two teams, the Diamondbacks will look to make the race even tighter when they visit the St. Louis Cardinals in the first of a three-game series Monday.

Arizona send its ace to the mound for the opener. Cy Young candidate Brandon Webb (21-7, 3.26 ERA) can make some headway toward winning the award for the second time in his career.

After three disastrous outings in a row in late August and early September, the righthander has rebounded with two strong performances in a row.

Webb snapped his skid by throwing eight shutout innings in a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on September 12, then followed it up with a solid seven-inning showing to lead Arizona over the San Francisco Giants last Wednesday.

Last year, Webb won his last four starts of the regular season and helped give the Diamondbacks a division title.

The Cardinals will counter with righthander Todd Wellemeyer (12-8, 3.66), who has dropped four of his last five decisions. He was hit hard in his one career start against the Diamondbacks, giving up six runs - four earned - and seven hits in just three innings in July 2007.