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D-backs head home for short stay

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By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

08/28/09 1:20 AM ET

SAN FRANCISCO -- After 11 days and four cities, the D-backs finally head home.

It won't be a long stay.

The D-backs will play host to the Astros in a three-game series that begins Friday night, and then they are on the road again, traveling to Los Angeles for four games and to Denver for three.

"It's unbelievable," Arizona third baseman Mark Reynolds said. "It's just like another three-game series on the road. This is rough stretch for any team."

It's a particularly rough patch for Reynolds. Not only did his team go 2-8 on the road trip, but Reynolds came down with a nasty case of the flu three games into it and was so sick he was not even at the ballpark for Tuesday's game against the Giants.

"For me, personally, it's been real tough being sick," Reynolds said. "Being alone on the road, it's been horrible."

The D-backs knew they were going to have stretches like this after they played just four road games the entire month of April. However, this long trip was made tougher when an off-day at the start turned into a makeup game in Atlanta. That meant the D-backs went to Atlanta, Philadelphia, Houston and San Francisco on the trip.

"It's been quite a run here," Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said. "We've obviously had one of the more miserable road trips that we've had this year. The schedule is what it is, and it doesn't do any good to complain about it or whine about it."

Pitching matchup
ARI: RHP Max Scherzer (7-8, 4.12 ERA)
Scherzer is riding a two-start losing streak and has won just two games since June 23. The right-hander allowed four runs on seven hits over five innings against the Astros on Saturday in Houston. Scherzer was more aggressive with his pitches early in the count, which was something he had to work on after allowing nine runs to the Braves in Atlanta in his previous outing. The Astros, though, were relentless at the plate, and Scherzer's inability to put away Kaz Matsui and Geoff Blum with two strikes helped lead to his downfall.

HOU: RHP Yorman Bazardo (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
Bazardo will make his fourth career start and second of the season for the Astros. The right-hander, who made his 2009 debut on Aug. 8 after spending most of the season at Triple-A Round Rock, gave up six hits, four walks and two runs in 4 2/3 innings in Saturday's win at Milwaukee, though he didn't get a decision. At Round Rock this season, he was 9-6 with a 3.20 ERA in 23 games, including 20 starts.

Tidbits
Outfielder Chris Young has been tearing it up at Triple-A Reno since his demotion earlier this month. Entering play Thursday night, Young was hitting .383 (18-for-47) with two home runs, eight RBIs and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.101. "The way it was phrased to me is he's not grinding on everything as much as he's just playing and having fun," Hinch said. "That comes from having success, and that's exactly the reason you get sent down, to go find some success and find a little joy in playing. It sounds like he's in better spirits and is getting something out of it." ... Hinch said it's unlikely Young will be recalled before Sept. 1, when rosters expand. ... Catcher Chris Snyder will have an MRI on his ailing back on Friday. Depending on the results, the D-backs will decide whether to add a catcher before Sept. 1. ... The club will honor former outfielder Luis Gonzalez in a ceremony prior to Saturday night's 5:10 p.m. MST game with the Astros.

Tickets
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On the Internet
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 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

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On radio
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Up next
• Saturday: D-backs (Jon Garland, 7-11, 4.48) vs. Astros (Bud Norris, 3-2, 5.86), 5:10 p.m. MST
• Sunday: D-backs (Dan Haren, 12-8, 2.73) vs. Astros (TBD), 1:10 p.m. MST
• Monday: D-backs (Doug Davis, 7-11, 3.75) at Dodgers (Randy Wolf, 9-6, 3.25), 7:10 p.m. MST

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