Arizona @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 25, 2012 ) Philadelphia 7, Arizona 2

While the Philadelphia Phillies announced their surrender with a slew of trade deadline deals, the Arizona Diamondbacks are still very much in the race. The Diamondbacks have battled inconsistency throughout the season but are coming off a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers that has pushed them to within two games of the San Francisco Giants for first place in the National League West. The Phillies still have plenty of starting pitching and are coming off a series win.

Arizona made the minor move of bringing in former Houston Astros third baseman Chris Johnson before the deadline and have been rewarded with two homers and seven RBIs in three games. Arizona has scored 6 1/2 runs per game since July 20, a major reason the club has won 10 of 13. The Diamondbacks began their 10-game road trip with the sweep of the Dodgers but can really make a stand if they pull out of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with a winning stretch. The Phillies’ lack of offense caught up to them in a 3-0 loss at Washington on Thursday. They are scrambling to fill the holes in the outfield left by the departures of Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSAZ (Arizona), CSN (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (9-8, 4.20 ERA) vs.. Phillies RH Joe Blanton (8-9, 4.59)

Kennedy has won his last three starts, allowing a total of six earned runs while striking out 23 and walking one in 22 1/3 innings. Each of the three runs he surrendered last time out came via a solo home run, and the right-hander has surrendered 18 blasts this season. Kennedy has made three career starts against Philadelphia, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 18 strikeouts against just three walks.

Blanton was one of the few veterans on the roster that did not get moved at the trade deadline but remains a prime candidate to leave town during the August waiver period. He has turned in three straight quality starts, pitching at least seven innings in each. The 31-year old lost at Atlanta last time out despite yielding only two runs and four hits in seven innings. Blanton has only faced Arizona twice in his career, going 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA while getting touched for 17 hits in 11 total innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies 1B Ryan Howard has one hit in his last 15 at-bats, striking out 10 times in that span.

2. Arizona INF Willie Bloomquist (back) has missed the last two games and is day to day.

3. The Diamondbacks released veteran OF Scott Podsednik, who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline, after he declined an assignment to Triple-A.