An Apparent Lack Of Energy Has Fallen On The D-backs Clubhouse, But The Optimism Is Still There

Losers of six straights games, the Arizona Diamondbacks will now head out onto the road to take on each of their California based NL West rivals. First up are the new look Dodgers, who are currently the team ahead of the D-backs in the standings. It's going to take a series win in their next series for the Diamondbacks to even think they stand a chance to make the playoffs, but it sounds as if they haven't thrown in the towel just yet.

Arizona has been in "do or die" mode for a while now, according to manager Kirk Gibson. "We had a terrible home stand. We scored 13 runs in our last six games, in the games we've lost. Not a lot is going right. It's not a good feeling. Everybody's searching and the more you search, the tougher it gets at times... Nobody feels sorry for us, we don't feel sorry for ourselves. That's part of what we signed up for."

Still, there is a lack of energy, according to pitcher Patrick Corbin. There just doesn't seem to be the type of fire that the team had this time one year ago. Instead of chasing a pennant, the Diamondbacks find themselves trying to stay alive in the race.

"We've been fighting all year. We're not going to let down at all and we're just going to go out there and continue what we're doing. We need to get some W's," Corbin said.

When asked about the passion the team has and the apparent lack of it, Corbin seemed to feel it as well. "I would say so," Corbin responded to the question about a lack of energy. "We just haven't been able to put some wins on the board and whether it's our pitching or hitting, it's not all clicking right now. And I know we have the team that can do it and we've shown [that] throughout this year. We've just got to keep it going and keep grinding and just go out there and play the best we can."

Despite all of the hardships the Diamondbacks face, their leader, Kirk Gibson, still has a sense of optimism.

"We need to stop that [losing] streak right now. We need to get that feeling back."

Reds Win 6-2 In Afternoon Matinee, Making It A Sweep And Sixth Straight Loss For The D-backs

Today's game against the Reds was perhaps the most crucial game of the season for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Prior to first pitch, the team found themselves 8.5 games out of first place in the NL West with only 32 games left on their schedule. A win is what they needed in order to stay in the race.

At the end of the first inning, it looked like they might have been on to something. A balk by Reds pitcher Mat Latos sent Aaron Hill across the plate from third base, making the score 1-0. On top of that, Arizona was able to make Latos throw 33 pitches just to get out of the inning. That was only the beginning of the D-backs' good fortune.

In the fourth, shortstop Jake Elmore hit a towering ball into left field that barely stayed fair. Reds outfielder Chris Heisey was unable to make a play on it and in the end, he slid, making the blooper single into a double. Justin Upton scored all the way from first base, making it a 2-0 lead for Arizona.

Patrick Corbin, the pitcher for the Diamondbacks today, was dealing from the mound. He allowed no hits through 2.1 innings and he kept the Reds at bay and off the scoreboard all the way through the sixth inning. He got into a bit of trouble in the sixth, however, when Zack Cozart made it to second base and catcher Wil Nieves made an error trying to throw him out. Cozart then advanced to third, but would remain there after a groundout from Brandon Phillips.

The trouble for Corbin came in the next inning. After getting behind in the count to Heisey, Corbin proceeded to allow a two run bomb to center field, tying the game at two a piece. Dioner Navarro decided to break the tie, hitting a solo homer that hit the left field foul pole. At a 3-2 deficit and with a stellar Reds bullpen, the D-backs looked like they were in trouble.

To make things worse, Phillips put the nail in the coffin by hitting a two run blast over the yellow line in center field, making the score 5-2 and putting the D-backs out of reach. What seemed like moments later, Heisey hit his second home run of the game, the fourth time in his career that he has had a multi-homer game. Both home runs were allowed by relief pitcher Matt Albers, who has struggled since coming to the D-backs in a trade with the Boston Red Sox.

Corbin's final line was a bit misleading as to how he actually pitched in the game. He gave up all of his runs in the seventh inning off of two bad pitches, but those two pitches helped to decide the game. In all, he went for 6.2 innings, giving up six hits, three earned runs, one walk and two homers with eight strikeouts. His season ERA has now risen to 3.93.

With a trip into Los Angeles and then San Francisco after that, the Diamondbacks will get a chance to rebound against divisional opponents, but it might already be too late. Arizona has failed to produce more than five runs since August 19th in a win over the Astros. The bats will need to get hot and the pitchers will need to buckle down if the D-backs want to keep their postseason hopes alive.

Get more Diamondbacks coverage over at AZ Snakepit.

For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and "Like" us on Facebook.

Diamondbacks Vs. Reds: Starting Lineups, Starting Pitching Notes And Bleak Outlooks

The Arizona Diamondbacks enter Chase Field today hoping to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds, making it their sixth straight loss. Arizona is currently 8.5 games out of first place and with only 32 games left on their schedule, manager Kirk Gibson knows the team is in, "do or die" mode.

"It has been (do or die)," Gibson said in his press conference before the game. "We've had a disappointing home stand. Nobody would expect us to play like that in this home stand. We've lost five in a row, we split with Miami (Marlins), we had a lead in one of those games. It just has not been a good home stand."

Gibson noted that during the series against the Padres, the longest any of his starting pitchers went was 5.1 innings. With that, extra pressure has been put on the bullpen for them to keep the D-backs in striking distance. Gibby also said that it just hasn't "been a trait" for this team to make comebacks this season. So when the Diamondbacks get down on the scoreboard early, it has been difficult for them to come back against closers and late inning bullpen pitchers.

Speaking of starting pitchers, the Diamondbacks will face a pretty good one today in Mat Latos. He is currently sporting a record of 10-4 with a 3.84 ERA. Even worse, Latos seems to excel in day games. This season, he is 4-0 with a 3.06 earned run average in daytime matches.

Other notes:

Willie Bloomquist is expected to play today and tomorrow at Salt River Fields, working towards his comeback to the major leagues. Josh Collmenter has look good as well and will do some more work in Los Angeles when the team travels to play the Dodgers. Gibson said we can still look at Saturday as a possible return for both players.

Gibson says that he has liked what he has seen from Jake Elmore, the young shortstop that was called up a few weeks back. Still, he has some pieces to his game that he needs to work on, as Gibson noted that he is still very "green". Oddly enough, Gibby said that Elmore might actually be a more natural second baseman. We'll see if that develops into anything.

Here are today's starting lineups:

Cincinnati Reds:

Zack Cozart (SS)

Drew Stubbs (CF)

Brandon Phillips (2B)

Jay Bruce (RF)

Todd Frazier (3B)

Chris Heisey (LF)

Miguel Cairo (1B)

Dioner Navarro (C)

Mat Latos (P, 10-4, 3.84)

Arizona Diamondbacks:

Chris Young (CF)

Aaron Hill (2B)

Jason Kubel (LF)

Paul Goldschmidt (1B)

Justin Upton (RF)

Ryan Wheeler (3B)

Jake Elmore (SS)

Wil Nieves (C)

Patrick Corbin (P, 5-5, 3.91)

Get more Diamondbacks coverage over at AZ Snakepit.

For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and "Like" us on Facebook.

Need A Ground Ball? D-backs' Brad Ziegler Is Who to Call

D-backs Vs. Reds Postgame Notes: Miley's Good Bad Inning, Cueto's Deception

Against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, Wade Miley only had one bad inning. It was the second inning, when the Reds had three men cross the plate when the first four batters reached safely. Todd Frazier singled, Scott Rolen walked in a 15-pitch at-bat, Chad Heisey singled and Ryan Hanigan singled. But the inning was really quite unfortunate on the whole, according to manager Kirk Gibson.

"That was just a tough inning," said Gibson after the ballgame. "Wade did a really good job, actually." He noted that the three hits were off the end of the bat and that Rolen's walk, the 15-pitcher, was the result of a "crafty" guy who has been around the game a long time.

Gibson said the inning "wasn't really fair," but gave credit to the Reds hitters. "You've got to give those guys credit for putting it in play," Gibson said. "It just didn't fall our way that inning."

Miley was a bit more critical of himself.

"I made some bad pitches in the second," he said. "Rolen...great at-bat. Everything I threw up there he got a piece of and drew a walk and -- a big inning...He was battling. I threw him in, out, up, down and he was just nicking it."

The opposing pitcher, Johnny Cueto, was tough. Arizona was able to scratch through a couple of runs, but that was it. They had four hits on the night.

Gibson gave Cueto, a 17-game winner on the year now, a lot of credit. "He's good. He's really good," he said. "His slider's really good. From a hitter, everything comes out of the same slot. It's unusual. He's very good and you've got to take advantage of any situation you got."

They really did. It just wasn't enough.

Catcher Miguel Montero had more praises for Cueto.

"He mixed his speeds pretty good and he locates his fastball pretty well, too, and keeps the ball down," he told reporters after the game. "He's good, man. You've got to give him credit. he just pretty much never gave in, and he's a tough guy to phase because when you go out there looking for something, it's like he just reads your mind. It's like he never throws you what you're looking for...He's have a hell of a year."

He said that, despite throwing a 94-mile an hour fastball, "it's a kind of sneaky 94 that's even harder" because he is able to hide the ball well. "His secondary stuff is a plus, too," Miggy added.

In the end, the result was a tough night overall. Arizona loses for the fifth time in a row and the seventh time this homestand. They now sit eight and a half games out of the division lead and seven and a half out of the wild card. They are struggling at the worst time of the year.

It looks like everyone is waiting for someone to do something get the team started, but no one is doing anything. If that keeps up, the end of the season will turn out ugly.

Get more Diamondbacks coverage over at AZ Snakepit.

For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and "Like" us on Facebook.

Losing Streak Reaches 5 Games As Reds Beat Miley, D-backs 5-2

The Arizona Diamondbacks turned to Wade Miley Tuesday night to try and snap the team's four-game losing streak. However, behind three runs in the second inning, the Cincinnati Reds topped Arizona 5-2 Tuesday night in Phoenix.

Arizona jumped in front in the first inning as Jason Kubel picked up his 80th RBI of the season. He hit a sacrifice fly to left that drove in Gerardo Parra, who led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch.

But Cincinnati would cause Miley some problems in the top of the second. Miley allowed the first four men aboard and three runs crossed the plate. Todd Frazier led off with a single. Scott Rolen fought through a 15-pitch at-bat to draw a walk. Chad Heisey then singled to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Frazier and moved the other two runners up and then catcher Ryan Hanigan drove both in with a base hit. Miley retired the next three men, but it was 3-1.

After that, Miley started dealing. He retired 18 of the next 21 hitters. He went seven innings, allowing the three runs in the second, six hits and struck out five.

In the fifth, Arizona pulled within one. Ryan Wheeler singled for his second hit of the night. He was forced out at second when John McDonald grounded into a fielder's choice. McDonald advanced to second on a groundout by Miley and a double by Gerardo Parra brought him home.

Cincinnati pulled away in the top of the eighth after Miley left the game. Recently acquired reliever Matt Lindstrom gave up singles to Brandon Phillips and Ryan Ludwick, and a triple to Rookie of the Year candidate Todd Frazier. That gave the Reds the room they needed at 5-2 to put away Arizona.

Cueto went seven innings, allowing just the two runs on four hits before giving way to the bullpen. Jonathan Broxton pitched the eighth and Aroldis Chapman closed things out for his 33rd save .

Miley took the loss, his ninth of the year, and Cueto picked up his 17th win.

Get more Diamondbacks coverage over at AZ Snakepit.

For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and "Like" us on Facebook.

D-backs Vs. Reds: Injury Updates, Trevor Bauer, Starting Lineups

The Arizona Diamondbacks have lost four straight game and host the Cincinnati Reds for the second of a three-game set. Wade Miley will go up against Johnny Cueto. In manager Kirk Gibson's pregame press conference, he updated the media about the team's injury situation and about the prospects of some of the possible September callups when rosters expand.

Infielder Willie Bloomquist, who has been on the disabled list because of his back, appears to be almost ready to come back. He played a few innings Monday night in his rehab assignment and is set to play tonight. He could be activated by the end of the week.

Pitcher Josh Collmenter, who was placed on the DL with ulcers, was to throw on Tuesday. There was no word as to any timetable.

On the topic of expanded rosters, which begin September 1, Gibson was asked about rookie Trevor Bauer, who had a brief stint with the major league team earlier this season. Gibson said that the decision has not been made yet as to whether or not he will be called up. If Triple-A Reno is in the minor league playoffs, the team may prefer to have him pitch in their postseason.

Here are the teams' starting lineups for Tuesday night.

Reds:

1. Zack Cozart, SS
2. Drew Stubbs, CF
3. Brandon Phillips, 2B
4. Ryan Ludwick, LF
5. Todd Frazier, 1B
6. Scott Rolen 3B
7. Chris Heisey, RF
8. Ryan Hanigan, C
9. Johnny Cueto, P

Diamondbacks

1. Gerardo Parra, CF
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Jason Kubel, LF
4. Justin Upton, RF
5. Miguel Montero, C
6. Chris Johnson, 3B
7. Ryan Wheeler, 1B
8. John McDonald, SS
9. Wade Miley, P

Get more Diamondbacks coverage over at AZ Snakepit.

For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and "Like" us on Facebook.

Diamondbacks Lose Another One-Run Game On Pitcher's Home Run

The Arizona Diamondbacks were in need of a losing-streak stopper, and Tyler Skaggs did everything he could to be that guy. But Skaggs ran out of gas in the top of the sixth inning, giving up a solo home run to Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo that gave the visitors the lead for good in Arizona's home loss.

The home run hit a post just beyond the left-field seats, but that wasn't apparent to the umpiring crew at first. The Reds called for a replay review, and what was originally a double was changed to a home run to give the Reds a 3-2 lead.

Cincinnati, the leaders in the NL Central, improved to 78-52 and look poised to run away with their division. The Diamondbacks, swept in three games by the San Diego Padres over the past weekend, dropped their fourth straight game and fell back below .500 at 64-65.

With 33 games left to play in the regular season, the Diamondbacks are 7 1/2 games out of first place in the NL West and 7 1/2 out of the final wild card playoff spot in the National League.

It looks grim.

Justin Upton gave the Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead with his 11th home run of the season, a solo shot to left field off Reds starter Bronson Arroyo in the bottom of the second. The Reds tied it in the third with Brandon Phillips' RBI double.

In the fourth, Skaggs ran into trouble, loading the bases after he hit Drew Stubbs with a pitch. Wilson Valdez hit a comebacker to Skaggs, who threw to first base for what should have been the final out of the innings.

The throw wasn't bad, but first baseman Paul Goldschmidt didn't squeeze his mitt in time for the catch and Scott Rolen came home to give the Reds a 2-1 lead.

Upton brought the Diamondbacks back with an RBI single to tie it at 2.

The Reds took the lead again with Arroyo's home run, and turned things over to their bullpen after the sixth inning. Sean Marshall, Jonathan Broxton and closer Aroldis Chapman shut out the D-backs over the last three innings to help the Reds to the win and send the D-backs to 2-6 on their current homestand.

For more on the Diamondbacks, head over to AZ Snake Pit.

D-backs Vs. Reds: Starting Lineups, Elmore Seeking First Hit In A Week

The Arizona Diamondbacks look to jump back over .500 for the season when they host the Cincinnati Reds Monday night at Chase Field. The D-backs' starting lineup looks like this:

Lineup vs. #Reds: @cy24_7 CF Hill 2B Kubel LF Goldschmidt 1B @jus10up10 RF Montero C @ryanwheeler21 3B @jelmo6 SS @tylerskaggs23 P — Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 27, 2012

• CF Chris Young
• 2B Aaron Hill
• LF Jason Kubel
• 1B Paul Goldschmidt
• RF Justin Upton
• C Miguel Montero
• 3B Ryan Wheeler
• SS Jake Elmore
• SP Tyler Skaggs

Elmore, a recent callup who played in college at Arizona State, makes his eighth career start. He hasn't gotten a hit since Aug. 20 and has appeared in five games since going 2-for-4 on that day.

The Diamondbacks look to snap a three-game losing streak and stay alive in the hunt for a postseason spot. The road is difficult with Arizona already 6.5 games out of the Wild Card race going into tonight's game.

For more on the Diamondbacks, head over to AZ Snake Pit.

Diamondbacks Vs. Reds Series Preview, Game Times, Pitching Probables And More

The Arizona Diamondbacks are under pressure to win with their postseason hopes having taken a big hit over the weekend and the Cincinnati Reds coming into Phoenix.