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Reds-Diamondbacks Preview

May 11, 2009 - 3:02 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Cincinnati (17-13) at Arizona (12-19), 9:40 p.m. EDT

The Arizona Diamondbacks finally got the offensive production they'd been seeking their last time out. They got to the opposing pitcher early, delivered with runners on and gave manager A.J. Hinch his first victory.

The Diamondbacks look to build off that performance and win their second in a row Monday night when they open a three-game series against the visiting Cincinnati Reds.

Chris Snyder and Eric Byrnes each drove in three runs and Justin Upton had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 17 games in Sunday's 10-8 win over Washington. The Diamondbacks (13-19) won for the second time in eight games and snapped a three-game slide - the last two under Hinch after Bob Melvin was fired.

"Granted, it's been great to get a first win as a manager," Hinch said, "but honestly, this team needed it and I'm happy for everybody in there."

The Diamondbacks pounded out a season-high 17 hits and went 8 for 21 with runners in scoring position after going 1 for 13 in such situations in Saturday's 2-1 loss. Arizona, which has the majors' worst batting average (.234) and has scored the second-fewest runs (120), had scored just 12 runs in its previous five games combined.

Upton's batting .393 (24 for 61) with six home runs and 15 RBIs during his run after hitting .167 (6 for 36) with no homers and one RBI in his first 12 games of the season. He's 6 for 9 with a home run and three doubles in his last two games against Cincinnati (17-14).

The Reds are coming off a 10-inning, 8-7 loss to St. Louis on Sunday that snapped their three-game winning streak.

Cincinnati hit five homers - including two solo shots in the ninth to tie the score - but came up just short of sweeping the top team in the NL Central.

"It would have been huge," Reds manager Dusty Baker told the team's official Web site. "That gives us something to keep fighting for and lets you know what you can do."

Baker expects to have first baseman Joey Votto, who has been suffering from the flu, back in the starting lineup Monday after he homered as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning Sunday.

Votto is 10 for 20 with a home run, four RBIs and a .677 on-base percentage in seven games this month.

Bronson Arroyo (4-2, 7.15 ERA) looks to put a forgettable outing behind him when he takes the hill for the Reds.

After allowing four hits in eight innings of a 4-0 win over Pittsburgh on May 1, Arroyo was tagged for nine runs, seven hits and three walks in just over an inning in Wednesday's 15-3 loss to Milwaukee.

The right-hander hopes to bounce back on the road, where he's posted a 1.69 ERA in winning three starts. He's 1-2 with a 16.34 ERA in three starts in Cincinnati.

In his only start against the Diamondbacks last season, Arroyo gave up four runs in five innings of a 6-5 victory, but was not a factor in the decision.

Arizona counters with Jon Garland (3-1, 4.03), who allowed three hits in seven shutout innings of a 3-1 win over San Diego on Wednesday.

Since yielding seven runs in a loss to St. Louis on April 15, the right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA in his last four outings.

In his only career start against the Reds on June 18, 2006, Garland yielded one run and four hits in eight innings of an 8-1 victory for the Chicago White Sox.

The Diamondbacks lost four of six to Cincinnati last season and eight of the last 10 meetings.