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ARI@PIT: Saunders pitches seven solid frames vs. Bucs

With their fourth consecutive win on Sunday, the D-backs continue to stay in the mix for a playoff spot.

They will look to make it five straight victories on Monday, when they open a three-day, four-game series against the Marlins at Chase Field.

Left-hander Joe Saunders will take the mound for Arizona (62-59), which completed a three-game sweep of the Astros on Sunday. Saunders (6-9, 3.70) is looking to bounce back after getting tagged with the loss in Wednesday's 5-2 defeat against the Cardinals. He allowed five runs on seven hits over six innings in the outing.

In that start, Saunders' pitching hand was hit by a line drive, but he stayed in the game.

"I got the first two guys out, but the velocity wasn't there and it was kind of tough to grip the ball," Saunders said. "When it hit, it was just straight numb right away, and I was just trying to see how it was gripping the ball to go back out there and just tried to do the best I could to get some outs. The bullpen needed me, the team needed me, and I just tried to do the best I could. Hindsight, I probably shouldn't have gone back out there, but my stubborn butt won't come out of the game."

Marlins' starter Mark Buehrle (10-11, 3.74) is coming off a win against the Phillies on Wednesday. The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings to earn his first win since July 14.

The win also gave Buehrle 10 on the season, the 12th consecutive year he has reached double digits, tying him with the Yankees' C.C. Sabathia for the longest active streak of 10-win campaigns.

"This is one of those accomplishments that at the end of your career, you might look back at what you did that not many people have done," Buehrle said. "But right now, it's disappointing that it took me this long to get to my 10th win in my 24th start. But I'm finally there. It's good."

Marlins: Ruggiano returns to Marlins' lineup
• Marlins left fielder Justin Ruggiano went 2-for-4 in his return to the Marlins' lineup in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Rockies.

It was Ruggiano's first action since he left in the middle of Wednesday's game with a right oblique strain. He has been dealing with back stiffness for a little while, which could have contributed to the oblique issue.

"To say it's not in the back of [my] mind that I've had a tight oblique or a tight back -- it's probably in my mind," Ruggiano said before Sunday's game. "I try not to think about it. I try once I hit the field to play my normal game. I've been dealing with a tight back -- everything's kind of intertwined -- the oblique and back kind of connect to each other. I'm just hoping this time I can keep it loose and be normal again."

• The Marlins reinstated outfielder Emilio Bonifacio and third baseman Donnie Murphy from the disabled list before Sunday's game.

D-backs: Wheeler makes second consecutive start
• Third baseman Ryan Wheeler made his second consecutive start in Sunday's series finale against the Astros, a day after hitting his first Major League home run.

Wheeler, who had not yet started consecutive games since joining the D-backs on July 20, went 0-for-3, but drew an RBI walk in the fourth inning.

"[Pinch-hitting] really makes you get with it," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said before the game. "It's not like you're getting a consistent three or four at-bats a game. We saw some improvement there."

Chris Johnson, who usually starts at third base, is hitless in his last 17 at-bats. He struck out in a pinch-hitting appearance on Sunday.

• After missing the first two games of the series with a stiff neck, Jason Kubel started and went 1-for-5 with a run scored in Sunday's 8-1 win.

Worth noting
• Arizona right-hander Josh Collmenter, who has been on the disabled list with ulcers since Aug. 10, will run through baseball activities on Monday. Later in the week, he is scheduled to play in a simulated game. Collmenter, who threw a bullpen session on Saturday, is eligible for activation next Saturday.

• Though this is his 13th season in the Majors, Monday will only be Buerhle's second career start against the D-backs. He was tagged with the loss in his only other outing against Arizona, a 9-5 Marlins' defeat on April 30.

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