Diamondbacks-Pirates Preview

A series against the Pittsburgh Pirates appears to be just what Arizona needed to end its recent struggles.

The Diamondbacks try to continue their success against the Pirates on Sunday when the teams continue their four-game series at PNC Park.

Arizona (34-28) had dropped eight of 10, including a three-game sweep at Milwaukee during the week, coming into this series. However, the NL West leaders have won their first two games against the Pirates (29-33), including Saturday's 4-3 victory.

Arizona improved to 23-13 all-time in Pittsburgh, and 46-27 against the Pirates overall in their history.

Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder hit a tiebreaking homer in the top of Saturday's ninth inning and threw out Luis Rivas trying to steal second base in the bottom half to help Arizona sew up the win. The Diamondbacks blew a three-run lead before Snyder's heroics earned them their second win in six road games.

"We've been battling, grinding and fighting," Snyder said. "Tonight, it worked out good for us."

However, Arizona has scored just seven runs in the first two games of this series as their offensive woes continue. The Diamondbacks are averaging just 3.1 runs over their last 12 games.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, had won four of six coming into this series. Left fielder Jason Bay homered on Saturday and has hit safely in 16 of 18 games.

The Pirates will look to bounce back against Doug Davis (2-2, 3.90 ERA), who is making his 20th career start against them -- his most against any opponent. Davis is 6-5 with a 4.98 ERA versus Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh second baseman Freddy Sanchez has 16 hits -- including five doubles and a homer -- in 32 career at-bats against Davis.

Davis is making his fourth start since returning from surgery to remove a cancerous thyroid gland on April 10. The left-hander gave up three runs -- one earned -- in six innings without getting a decision in the Diamondbacks' 4-3 loss at Milwaukee on Monday.

"I felt great with all my pitches," Davis told the Diamondbacks' official Web site. "I executed my plan down there. I didn't really have a lot of balls hit hard. I felt like I competed out there and gave my team a chance to win."

The Pirates counter with Phil Dumatrait (2-3, 3.47), who is making his eighth start after opening the season in the bullpen. He gave up two runs in six innings but was charged with Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Houston.

Five days earlier, the rookie left-hander lasted a career-best seven innings and gave up just one unearned run in a win st Cincinnati. He has allowed just three total earned runs in his last three starts.

"He's turning into a really stable pitcher for us and is going out there and giving us some quality innings," manager John Russell told the Pirates' official Web site. "He's been building with our starting pitching and really taken off with it."

Dumatrait is making his first start against Arizona.