Arizona (28-19) at Cincinnati (27-21)

The Arizona Diamondbacks were playing well when they left the desert. They look to continue their strong play when they meet the Cincinnati Reds in the middle game of their weekend series at Great American Ballpark on Saturday.

The Diamondbacks opened a season-high 10-game road trip with their fourth straight win, 3-0 victory over the Reds on Friday. The win was Arizona’s ninth in 11 games.

“This is a tough trip,” Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said of his team, which will also play the NL East-leading New York Mets and Atlanta. “We played well on the road last year. I don’t think this is a team that will struggle on the road. I think we will play well on the road.”

Arizona has won 12 of its past 16 games in Cincinnati.

Juan Cruz (1-3, 5.61 ERA) has struggled for the Diamondbacks this season, and looks to stop a three-game losing streak when he starts Saturday.

Cruz, acquired by Arizona on March 26 from Oakland, began the season as a reliever before joining the rotation on April 29. He gave up two hits and two runs in six innings in his last start on Sunday against the Braves, but lost 2-1.

“I got all my pitches to work,” Cruz said. “I think I’m doing an OK job. You gotta forget about the negative thing because you don’t want to bring the negative thing to the games. You just forget what happened. It’s a new day.”

Arizona is 3-9 this season in games Cruz has appeared in.

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 5.35 ERA in 14 career appearances against the Reds. Cruz has made only four starts against Cincinnati, the last coming on Sept. 13, 2003 when he was with the Chicago Cubs.

The Reds have lost four of their past six games, and have been shut out twice in that span. Aaron Harang (5-3, 3.82) tries to stop that slide and win for the first time in three starts when he takes the mound for Cincinnati.

The right-hander won five straight decisions from April 8-May 4 but has lost his last two, despite throwing a complete game against the Tigers on Sunday.

Harang gave up just five hits in that contest, but Detroit won the game 1-0. He is 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in four starts against the Diamondbacks, allowing five runs combined in those starts.

Arizona has won 12 of its past 16 games in Cincinnati.

Shawn Green hit a two-run homer in Friday’s win and the Diamondbacks turned two double plays, both started by shortstop Craig Counsell.

“Counsell played a great game,” said starter Brandon Webb, who became the majors’ first eight-game winner. “Our defense has been awesome. I’m able to relax out there.”

The Diamondbacks have made 23 errors, and have a .988 fielding percentage, tops in baseball.

Green’s homer was his first since May 7, also against Cincinnati.