Cleveland @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2011 ) Cleveland 4, Arizona 6

THE STORY: The Cleveland Indians play their final game of a tough month Wednesday when they complete a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cleveland’s record dropped to 9-17 in June when Arizona’s Wily Mo Pena hit a dramatic game-winning homer with two out in the ninth on Tuesday to give the Diamondbacks a 6-4 victory. The Indians missed a chance to move back into a virtual tie for first-place in the American League Central due to the loss. Cleveland trails the Detroit Tigers by one game. Arizona snapped a three-game losing skid and trails San Francisco by 2 1/2 games in the National League West.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, STO, FSAZ.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (7-4, 3.62) vs. Diamondbacks LH Zach Duke (1-2, 5.73)

Carrasco lost to San Francisco in his last outing despite allowing just one earned run and six hits in eight innings. It was just his second defeat in his last eight decisions. In 29 2/3 innings spanning his last four starts, Carrasco has allowed just two earned runs. His ERA was 5.18 prior to the recent stretch. Carrasco has never faced the Diamondbacks.

Duke has gone five straight starts without a victory since winning his first start of the season on May 28. He was been pounded for 16 runs and 27 hits in 14 innings over his last three outings. He lasted just four innings and gave up six runs and seven hits while taking a no-decision against Detroit in his last outing. Opposing hitters are batting .343 against him. He is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two career starts against Cleveland.

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (44-37): Pena has three homers in 25 at-bats with the Diamondbacks since being recalled from Triple-A Reno. He has six homers in 69 career at-bats against Cleveland pitching. Kelly Johnson hit his 13th homer and is second on the club behind Chris Young (15). Gerardo Parra had his third three-hit game of the season. Closer J.J. Putz has blown saves in three of his last seven chances and has allowed homers in back-to-back appearances for the first time since April of 2007. The Diamondbacks are hoping to get utilityman Geoff Blum (knee) back around the All-Star break.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (41-37): Carlos Santana hit his 11th homer on Tuesday, a two-run shot off Putz in the ninth that tied the contest. Orlando Cabrera hit a game-winning homer against Putz on Monday and walked against him Tuesday. Cabrera is 6-for-12 lifetime against Putz. Touted Lonnie Chisenhall is 3-for-8 after two major-league games. Grady Sizemore struck out twice Tuesday and has fanned 33 times in June. Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a broken left thumb and is expected to miss 8 to 10 months. Choo was hitting just .244 at the time of the injury after batting .300 last season.

FINAL PITCH: “We’re just going to have to do the best we can do to have guys pick up the slack and play up to their capabilities. There’s no magic wand on this one. We lost a good player.” – Indians manager Manny Acta on Choo's injury.