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Haren hopes Diamondbacks' offense comes to life

Apr 12, 2009 - 5:38 AM By Jeff Mezydlo Stats Senior Writer

LA Dodgers (3-3) at Arizona (2-3), 4:10 p.m.

PHOENIX (AP) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks had trouble scoring runs for Dan Haren in his 2009 debut.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, meanwhile, didn't have any problems producing at the plate in the latest game between these NL West rivals.

Haren could use more run support Sunday when he faces the Dodgers in the decisive contest of the teams' three-game set at Chase Field.

One night after a 9-4 win over Los Angeles (3-3), Arizona's bats went cold Saturday in an 11-2 loss.

Inconsistent offensive production has plagued the Diamondbacks (2-3) in the first week of the season. They've scored nine runs in each win, but four total in their losses.

One day after outlasting Colorado 9-8 in its season opener, Arizona lost 3-0 to the Rockies on Tuesday with Haren (0-1, 1.29 ERA) on the mound.

The right-hander, who was 16-8 with a 3.33 ERA a year ago and improved his win total for a third straight season, allowed one run and three hits with nine strikeouts over seven innings. His only blemish was a Troy Tulowitzki fifth-inning homer, but Arizona's hitters mustered just five hits on the day.

"I've got 33 starts left, so if I do what I did (Tuesday), I'll win a lot of ballgames," Haren told the Diamondbacks' official Web site.

The right-hander is 3-3 with a 4.54 ERA in six starts versus the Dodgers, but has taken the loss the last two times he's faced them.

Los Angeles will likely make that three in a row if it hits like it did Saturday.

Second baseman Orlando Hudson, who spent the last three seasons with Arizona, homered, doubled and drove in three runs against his former team.

"I have a feeling that when we are playing back here he's pumped up a little bit," Los Angeles manager Joe Torre said of Hudson, who despite going 0-for-3 on Friday, has six hits in his last four games.

Russell Martin and Andre Ethier each added two RBIs for the Dodgers, who scored one fewer run Saturday than they plated in total while losing two of their three previous games. Ethier is 7-for-15 with a homer and four RBIs against Haren.

Manny Ramirez scored two runs, but is still seeking his first homer of 2009. He is 9-for-18 with two home runs and four RBIs versus Haren.

After minor-league callup Eric Stults gave Los Angeles a solid effort on the mound Saturday in place of the injured Hiroki Kuroda, veteran Randy Wolf (0-1, 6.75) takes the ball in this contest.

Wolf's second stint with the Dodgers got off to a rough start Tuesday, as he allowed four runs and six hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 5 1-3 innings of a 4-2 loss at San Diego.

"All game I was falling behind in the count," Wolf said. "I have to make better pitches, especially in situations with runners on."

The left-hander is 6-3 with a 4.62 ERA in 12 starts against the Diamondbacks.

Mark Reynolds had two hits and Stephen Drew drove in a run Saturday for Arizona, which had only six hits and didn't score until the sixth inning. Reynolds has a hit in all four games he's played in 2009.