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Qualls sees good things coming from 'pen

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By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com

07/24/09 2:31 AM ET

PHOENIX -- Veteran Chad Qualls is familiar with the ups and downs of the bullpen, so he's not going to panic when his fellow relievers struggle. He is going to grin when they do well.

Over the years, Qualls says he's learned that relievers are like offensive linemen in the NFL. When relievers do their job, nobody notices. When they don't, that's when they are on television.

Just like linemen.

"The bullpen is always in there when the game is on the line, so you are always the goat or you just go unnoticed," Qualls said. "We struggled early this season, but we have been throwing the ball well lately. We have a lot of young guys that have not been in certain situations before, but the more and more they pitch, the more they can be more successful in the future."

On Thursday, four D-backs relievers combined to shut out the Pirates over four innings when Dan Haren came out of the game after five innings of work. Qualls is not surprised and expects similar results throughout the remainder of the season from his bullpen buddies.

The D-backs' relievers rank 14th in the National League with a 4.85 ERA.

"If we keep going on the road that we are and if the starters feel like they go six or sometimes seven innings instead of always eight or nine innings, it takes the pressure off them," Qualls said. "If our offense keeps hitting the ball and know they can trust us, we will start rolling."

The veteran wants to be around to see the D-backs turn it around. Qualls said he is aware that his name has been rumored to be on the trading block, but he's not going to let rumors bother him.

"I don't think about that stuff and I don't let it bother me," he said. "I want to stay in Arizona and I enjoy it here. I'm just going to wait until August 1st and hopefully, I will still be here."

Qualls is 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA with 18 saves.

Pitching matchup
ARI: RHP Yusmeiro Petit (0-4, 7.15 ERA)
Petit had probably his best outing of the year in his last start against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The right-hander allowed just two runs on three hits over six innings. Walks wound up costing Petit. He walked four in the game, but the crucial two came back-to-back with two outs in the fourth to load the bases for St. Louis pitcher Joel Pineiro. Pineiro hit a slider into left for a two-run double that proved to be the difference in the 2-1 Cardinals win. Petit is filling in Brandon Webb's spot in the rotation.

PIT: LHP Zach Duke (8-9, 3.38 ERA)
In his last outing, Duke lost at home for just the second time in his last seven decisions at PNC Park. And it was all the result of one inning-long hiccup. Duke kept the Giants off the scoreboard in six of the seven frames he pitched, but San Fransisco's four-run sixth was enough to do the lefty in. His pitches started elevating, and Duke allowed four consecutive doubles. Though he continues to pitch well, Duke has now lost four straight starts and hasn't won on the road since April 25. Duke is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four career starts against Arizona.

Tidbits
Manager A.J. Hinch said Miguel Montero has "staked his claim to significant playing time." Injured Chris Snyder will continue his rehab assignment this weekend and will re-evaluate his status Monday. The club has not set a time-table for his return. Montero has hit safely in six consecutive games and is hitting .440 during that stretch. ... Mark Reynolds has 23 multi-hit games this season.

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Up next
• Saturday: D-backs (Doug Davis, 4-10, 3.95) vs. Pirates (Ross Ohlendorf, 8-7, 4.59), 5:10 p.m. MST
• Sunday: D-backs (Max Scherzer, 5-6, 3.86) vs. Pirates (Virgil Vasquez, 1-4, 5.54), 1:10 p.m. MST
• Monday: D-backs (Jon Garland, 5-9, 4.41) vs. Phillies (Jamie Moyer, 9-7, 5.65), 6:40 p.m. MST

Jesse Sanchez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.