Orioles' Kyle Bradish set for homecoming vs. Diamondbacks

Phoenix-area native Kyle Bradish has watched many Arizona Diamondbacks' games but has never taken the mound at Chase Field.

The Baltimore right-hander will get his first chance to step on that rubber Saturday night when the Orioles face the Diamondbacks in the middle contest of a three-game series at Phoenix.

Bradish, who will turn 27 on Sept. 12, was born in Peoria, went to high school in Goodyear and has been looking forward to pitching against the Diamondbacks (70-65).

"It'll be very cool. I grew up going to games there, watching the Diamondbacks play," Bradish told reporters. "I know I'm going to have a lot of family there, so that'll be fun. I'll just try to treat it like another (game), just not try to get too caught up in it."

Bradish (9-6, 3.03 ERA) is enjoying a breakthrough campaign in his second major league season. He has struck out 130 in 133 2/3 innings and has a solid 1.11 WHIP.

Bradish was superb in August with a 3-0 record and 2.12 ERA in five starts. He held opposing batters to a .189 average.

He beat the Colorado Rockies in his last turn, allowing two runs and six hits over six innings last Saturday.

Bradish will try to get the Orioles (83-51) back in the victory column after they dropped a 4-2 decision in Friday's series opener. Baltimore has lost two straight games after winning nine of its previous 11 but still possesses a 1 1/2-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.

Arizona received two-run homers by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Christian Walker in Friday's win to move into a tie with the San Francisco for the third wild-card spot in the National League.

Walker's two-run shot was his 29th homer of the season, and it came against the organization with which he first reached the majors.

"It's cool seeing familiar faces that I spent a lot of time with in the minor leagues," Walker said afterward. "But as far as emotions, playing against that uniform, there's nothing too heavy for me.

"It's a good ballclub. It's a lot different than the guys when I was there. To be honest, there are no hard feelings or anything like that."

Walker was pleased with how the Diamondbacks bounced back on Friday after they were outscored 23-5 while losing three games to the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in the week.

"There's one month left. It's everything we've got now," Walker said. "We have to win every moment, every inning. It's about staying in the moment. It doesn't matter what happened yesterday.

"Moving forward to tomorrow, coming off a good win, we still have to prepare the same way and be ready to come out and win."

Baltimore first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (illness) was scratched from Friday's lineup. Mountcastle batted .360 with five homers and 19 RBIs in August. Overall, he is batting .275 with 18 homers and 65 RBIs.

Ryan O'Hearn had two hits and two RBIs for the Orioles on Friday.

Rookie right-hander Slade Cecconi (0-0, 2.57 ERA) will make his fourth start and sixth appearance for the Diamondbacks.

Cecconi, 24, has allowed one run, three hits and no walks in each of his past two starts. He pitched five innings against the Texas Rangers on Aug. 21 and 5 2/3 vs. the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.