Arizona @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2011 ) Arizona 1, Atlanta 8

THE STORY: The Arizona Diamondbacks knew this was going to be a difficult road trip and their scuffling offense is not making it any easier. Arizona has scored just nine runs in the first five games, losing the last four. Rookie starter Josh Collmenter will try to change the Diamondbacks’ fortunes in the last of a three-game series at the Atlanta Braves Sunday afternoon. The good news for Arizona is it still leads the San Francisco Giants by 2 1/2 games in the National League-West. The Braves have won five of their last six and lead the wild-card race by eight games.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET; FS-ARIZ (Arizona), FS-SO (Atlanta).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Josh Collmenter (7-7, 3.47 ERA) vs. Braves RH Tim Hudson (12-7, 3.13 ERA).

Collmenter pitched well against Philadelphia, allowing two runs in 6 2/3 innings in his last start Tuesday but failing to register a decision. He was outstanding in his start against Atlanta on May 19, shutting the Braves out on two hits over six innings for the victory. Freddie Freeman had the only two hits. Collmenter is 1-4 away from home.

Hudson has won three straight decisions and seven of his last eight. He has not allowed more than three earned runs in his last 13 starts and has pitched at least seven innings in his last eight. Hudson is 5-0 vs. Arizona lifetime with a 1.54 ERA over 52 2/3 innings. Current Diamondbacks are hitting .205 against Hudson.

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (69-57): Arizona manager Kirk Gibson gave center fielder Chris Young a day off Saturday to see if the extra rest could help pull him out of a dreadful slump. Young is batting .123 in August and is 1-for-25 the last seven games. Third baseman Ryan Roberts did not start either and is 1-for-15 on the road trip. Even MVP candidate Justin Upton is just 3-for-20 in the first five games of the trip. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, 23, is batting .275 with four homers and 10 RBIs in his first 51 major-league at-bats. He was robbed of an extra-base hit by Braves center fielder Michael Bourn on Saturday.

ABOUT THE BRAVES (75-52): Bourn has made quite a difference for the Braves since being acquired at the trade deadline. Bourn is batting .307 with a homer, 10 RBIs and six stolen bases along with playing outstanding defense. The Braves have allowed two runs or fewer in four of the last five games, but they are also producing on offense. Veteran Chipper Jones is 6-for-11 the last three games with two homers and three RBIs. Brian McCann got his first day off Saturday since coming off the disabled list Aug. 14. His homer Friday made him the 11th catcher in major-league history to hit 20 home runs in four consecutive seasons.

FINAL PITCH: Arizona catcher Miguel Montero threw out speedy rookie Jose Constanza and Bourn, the major-league leader, trying to steal Friday. Montero has caught 38.3 percent of runners attempting to steal, second in the majors.