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Padres-Diamondbacks Preview

May 27, 2009 - 6:17 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

San Diego (23-22) at Arizona (19-26), 9:40 p.m. EDT

The way the San Diego Padres have played of late, Jake Peavy might want to seriously consider staying with the only team he's ever pitched for during his stellar major league career.

With the latest trade talks behind him, Peavy tries for a third straight victory while looking to help the Padres bounce back from their first loss in almost two weeks in Wednesday night's series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Peavy (4-5, 3.48 ERA) allowed two hits and struck out 10 while walking four in six innings of a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday.

It came one day after the 2007 Cy Young Award winner vetoed a trade to the White Sox. He reiterated after the game that staying with the Padres (23-23), who lost 6-5 Tuesday to snap their 10-game winning streak, is the right thing to do "right now."

The right-hander, who has a no-trade clause in his contract, also said he understands he might have to make another decision about a trade again this season as the club continues trying to cut salary.

"We'll certainly cross that bridge when we get there," said Peavy, who is in his eighth year with San Diego. "There's no hard feelings if there does come another time, or if they don't.

"I want to do what's right and fair for everybody, and in everybody's best interests."

That could possibly mean staying put with the Padres, who jumped from last place to second in the NL West during their recent winning streak.

Peavy, who gave up a run and struck out eight in a complete-game 3-1 win over Cincinnati on May 17, is 11-12 with a 4.71 ERA in 27 starts against the Diamondbacks (20-26). He yielded two runs while striking out a season-high 12 in seven innings of a 3-1 loss to them on May 6.

After overcoming a six-run deficit in Monday's 9-7, 10-inning win that snapped an 11-game road losing skid, San Diego almost did it again Tuesday, but fell 6-5 to the Diamondbacks.

Brian Giles had three hits and Chase Headley added two with an RBI for the Padres, who were down two runs in the ninth with the bases loaded and nobody out but scored only once.

Headley, who hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the opener, is 5 for 13 with three RBIs in his last three contests. He is 4 for 10 against Arizona this season.

Mark Reynolds hit his team-leading 13th homer and Ryan Roberts added three hits Tuesday for the Diamondbacks, who snapped a four-game home losing streak.

"For us to show resiliency and get the win, that's the important part," Tuesday's winning pitcher Max Scherzer said.

Roberts is batting .366 (15 for 41) in 29 games for Arizona.

Billy Buckner (1-0, 6.35) takes the ball after allowing one run and five hits in 7 1-3 innings of a 2-1 victory at Oakland on Friday in his first start since 2007.

The right-hander made 10 relief appearances for Arizona in 2008, and three this season before being sent to the minors.

"He's always had a good breaking ball, but seeing him pitch with conviction with his sinker and changeup, going right after hitters, is exactly what our club needed and exactly what he needed in a big start in the big leagues," Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said of Buckner, who will make his first appearance versus San Diego.