Haren has faced the Yankees seven times in his career -- all starts -- and is 4-0 with a 3.77 earned run average. Even though he hasn't faced them since the 2007 campaign while a member of the Oakland Athletics, Haren hopes his change of scenery will bear similar results.
In his last outing against New York on July 1, 2007, Haren benefited from great run support in an 11-5 triumph. The right-hander earned the victory despite giving up five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Haren will try to get back on track Tuesday after having a personal two-start winning streak come to an end with Thursday's 8-5 setback at Boston in which he was dealt the loss for allowing six runs -- four earned -- on seven hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. Haren, who is 5-2 in seven home starts this season, is 7-5 with a 4.71 ERA in 15 overall outings in 2010.
New York will counter with a veteran of its own in Andy Pettitte, who was 3-0 in a four-start stretch before losing for only the second time this season Thursday versus Philadelphia. Pettitte gave up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and three walks in seven innings of his team's 7-1 loss.
Pettitte dropped to 8-2 to go along with a 2.47 earned run average in 13 starts this season. The left-hander, who is 2-0 in four road tilts this year, owns a 2-5 mark and a 4.24 ERA in seven career regular-season games (six starts) against the Diamondbacks.
The Yankees could use a solid pitching performance after what they got from streaky right-hander A.J. Burnett in last night's 10-4 loss in the series opener. Burnett was hammered for seven runs -- five in the first inning -- and nine hits, including three home runs, in only four innings of work. Chan Ho Park contributed to the misery by giving up three homers in two innings of relief.
"A little frustration, disappointed, you know how good I am and how I should be throwing the ball," Burnett said after the defending World Series champions lost for the fourth time in six tries. "The past handful of starts I haven't been giving my team a chance, from out of the gate. I'm preparing, I'm doing my work in between, just not executing out there in the game."
Nick Swisher drove in two runs, Brett Gardner went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and Alex Rodriguez knocked in a run for the Yankees, whose modest two- game winning streak came to an end. The Yankees still lead the American League East Division by a half-game over Tampa Bay and Boston, and have the best record in baseball at 43-27.
Arizona won for the second time in three games after losing four in a row. Justin Upton had a huge night for the D'Backs, going 3-for-3 with two home runs, four RBI and four runs scored.
Adam LaRoche hit a three-run homer during the explosive first inning and Mark Reynolds clubbed his 17th homer of the season for Arizona, which got eight decent innings out of starter Rodrigo Lopez. He held the Yankees to three runs on eight hits and two walks to improve to 3-6 on the season.
"We set the tone pretty early," said Arizona manager A.J. Hinch. "Rodrigo came in and retired them quickly in the first inning, with all strikes. A first- pitch out to [Yankees shortstop Derek] Jeter was big; getting three up and three down, and get on them right away, gave us some momentum."
The Yankees are 7-3 all-time in regular season games with Arizona and swept a three-game series in the Bronx the last time these two clubs squared off in 2007. The Yankees outscored the D'Backs, 18-4, in those games. Arizona, of course, beat New York in seven games to win the 2001 World Series.
New York is 140-101 in interleague play, while the D'Backs are 88-109.