D-Backs notebook: Pitching staff has fewest walks in NL

LOS ANGELES - Dan Haren entered this season with a goal to have fewer walks than games started.

He is within range — 24 walks in 22 starts — and his determination to throw quality strikes is typical of the Diamondbacks’ approach.

D-Backs' successful road trip ends on sour note

The D-Backs lead the NL in fewest walks, 312, and their control was a strength on the 7-3 road trip that ended Sunday.

D-Backs starters had only 10 walks, one intentional, in 60 1/3 innings, and never more than two in a game. Neither Randy Johnson nor Haren, who starts tonight, had a walk in two starts on the trip.

“I’m going to give up more hits, but if you don’t walk anybody, it takes a couple of hits to manufacture a run,” said Johnson, who won his fifth straight game Friday and has two walks in his last 32 1/3 innings.

“I like my chances if they have to piece together several hits to score a run.”

Haren (11-5) has not walked a batter in his last 17 innings.

“I get really frustrated when I walk guys. A lot of times, a big inning starts with a walk, at least with me,” said Haren, who leads the NL with a ratio of 5.6 strikeouts for every walk.

“I’ve been pretty aggressive. I like to challenge guys.”

Only three staffs have given up fewer walks than the D-Backs — Minnesota (265), Cleveland (306) and the Chicago White Sox (311).

“It speaks to the aggressiveness of the staff as a whole,” pitching coach Bryan Price said.

“Our catchers do a great job of setting up over the plate. The other thing that is important is the ability to throw secondary pitches for strikes when they are behind in the count. We have guys who can do that.”

LINEUP ADJUSTMENT

Orlando Hudson hit second and Conor Jackson third the last two games of the Los Angeles series, and manager Bob Melvin said he believes Jackson is a good fit at No. 3.

“He certainly can handle it,” Melvin said. “He gets on base. He hits for average. He drives in runs. A lot of times, your No. 3 hitter is your best hitter.

“Based on how he is swinging, it is not a stretch to put him there.”

Jackson is hitting .314 and leads the D-Backs in batting average, on-base percentage (.396) and slugging percentage (.496).

The move also enables Melvin to get a favorable matchup with switch-hitting Hudson hitting second.

Chris Young, who has two hits in his last 25 at-bats, was dropped from second to seventh. When he is hitting well, he is a good fit at No. 2 because of his speed.

SHORT HOPS

The D-Backs are unlikely to pursue former rotation member Livan Hernandez, who was designated for assignment by Minnesota on Thursday. Hernandez (10-8, 5.48 ERA) pitched well early this season but had a 6.87 ERA in his last 13 starts for the Twins. …

Left-hander Doug Slaten is scheduled to pitch an inning for Triple-A Tucson at Oklahoma City today. He also is scheduled to pitch Wednesday, after which he could be activated from the disabled list in time for a weekend series against Atlanta. …

Justin Upton took a rehabilitation day off Sunday and is expected to take batting practice at Chase Field this week, although no date has been set. “We haven’t had any setbacks, Melvin said. “Certain days it’s a little bit sore. We could use him.” …

Alex Romero, the left-handed hitting side of the D-Backs’ right-field platoon in Upton’s absence, has hit safely in his last eight starts He had his first two career stolen bases on the trip, stealing second Sunday.