Arizona (80-74) at Milwaukee (65-89)

Elmer Dessens looks to rebound from a rough outing as the Arizona Diamondbacks continue their three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Dessens gave up five earned runs and nine hits in five-plus innings of an 8-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 12—his fourth defeat in six decisions. The right-hander, winless since Aug. 21, looked strong through five innings, but gave up three runs in the sixth without getting an out.

“That seems like that’s the way it’s happened this year,” manager Bob Brenly said. “It seems like once it goes, it goes quickly. It happens so fast you can’t get anybody ready fast enough to get them into the ballgame and the damage is done.”

Brenly looked at videotape the following day to try to figure out what happened.

“Over the course of four hitters he may only throw six pitches and they put three runs on the board,” Brenly said. “Just that quick. I really can’t put my finger on it. It almost seems like it has to be a mental thing at this point because his stuff is good. He was pitching really effectively last night up until that point.

“I don’t even know how to explain it. I have never seen a pitcher go through a similar type of a thing where it unravels so quickly for whatever reason.”

Since his last win—a span of three starts and two relief appearances— Dessens is 0-1 with a 6.86 ERA.

The Diamondbacks beat the Brewers 3-2 on Friday for their fifth win in six games.

Randy Johnson pitched six innings and hit his first career home run, and Steve Finley broke a tie with a ninth-inning shot for the Diamondbacks.

Eddie Perez went 3-for-4 with a double and a homer for the Brewers, who have lost 12 of 15.

STANDINGS (through Aug. 18): Diamondbacks - 3rd place, 15 GB, NL West. Brewers - 5th place (tied), 18 1/2 GB, NL Central.

DIAMONDBACKS PROBABLE STARTER: Dessens (7-8, 5.16 ERA). The right-hander is 7-5 with a 3.48 ERA in 18 career appearances, including 14 starts, against the Brewers.

BREWERS PROBABLE STARTER: Wayne Franklin (10-12, 5.33 ERA). Franklin gave up three earned runs and five hits in seven innings of the Brewers’ 5-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, but he did not receive a decision. The left-hander made his only career appearance against the Diamondbacks on April 11, giving up five runs, four earned, and seven hits in six innings of an 11-7 win.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Diamondbacks - Luis Gonzalez, .300 avg., 26 HRs, 100 RBIs and 90 runs; Finley, 14 SBs. Brewers - Scott Podsednik, .314 avg., 93 runs and 42 SBs; Richie Sexson, 40 HRs and 115 RBIs.

SEASON SERIES: Tied, 2-2.

STREAKS AND NOTES: Diamondbacks - RHP Matt Mantei earned his 26th save in 29 chances Friday. … RHP Dessens has allowed 11 homers in his last 49 innings against the Brewers. … The Diamondbacks have averaged just 1.75 runs over their last four games. Brewers - The Brewers have not faced the Diamondabcks since April 11-13, when they won two of three games in Arizona. … The Brewers activated RHP Ruben Quevedo, who had been on the disabled list since June 27 with right shoulder tendinitis, on Friday. … The Brewers must win five of their final eight games to reach the goal of 70 wins that they set earlier in the season.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Diamondbacks - 36-40 on the road; Brewers - 30-47 at home.

INJURIES: Diamondbacks - RHP Mike Koplove (shoulder), 60-day DL. Brewers - OF Geoff Jenkins (thumb), 15-day DL; RHP Jayson Durocher (shoulder), 15-day DL; LHP Matt Ford (elbow), 15-day DL; RHP Nick Neugebauer (shoulder), 15-day DL; RHP Todd Ritchie (shoulder), 60-day DL.