=== Arizona Diamondbacks Team Report - July 30 === (My Sportsbook) - The Arizona Diamondbacks will try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Florida Marlins tonight at Pro Player Stadium. A battle of the National League's two high-profile lefthanders takes center stage tonight, as Arizona's Randy Johnson pitches against Florida rookie Dontrelle Willis. Arizona lost 2-1 last night. Matt Kata drove in the lone run for Arizona, which has lost nine of its last 11 and a team record eight in a row on the road. The Diamondbacks have played six straight one-run games and have scored just eight runs in that span. Arizona enters tonight's play three games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL wild card spot. Arizona will try to get a boost offensively tonight from Raul Mondesi, who was acquired in a trade from the New York Yankees in exchange for outfielder David Dellucci, pitcher Bret Prinz and minor league catcher Jon Mark Sprowl. The 39-year-old Johnson makes his seventh start of the season and his third since returning from the disabled list. He was sharp in his most recent start on Friday versus Los Angeles, recording a no-decision in Arizona's 2-1 triumph in 15 innings. In that game, he allowed a run on three hits with a walk and six strikeouts in eight innings. The Big Unit, who was on the disabled list following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, is 0-1 since his return. However, he has dominated the Marlins in his career, going 6-0 with a 1.38 ERA in nine starts, allowing just 10 earned runs in 65 innings. He has won his last four starts versus Florida and has five double-digit strikeout games versus the Marlins. |
