Arizona lost for the 11th time in 16 games on Tuesday, falling 8-6 to Milwaukee (45-38). The loss knocked the Diamondbacks back to 42-42 - the third time in five games they have fallen to .500.

Arizona has managed to win the last two times they have been at the break-even mark. But the Diamondbacks are once again on the verge of falling under .500 for the first time since they were 1-2.

Wednesday's defeat came at the end of a trying day for Arizona, whose division lead shrunk to 2 1/2 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Left fielder Eric Byrnes was placed on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, eight days after he was activated from a stint on the DL with injuries to both hamstrings.

Manager Bob Melvin said he didn't think Byrnes had come back too soon.

"How he felt, and the feedback we were getting from him, he was healthy enough to come back and felt like healthy enough to play on an everyday basis," the manager said.

Catcher Chris Snyder also landed on the DL with a left testicular fracture.

Conor Jackson, the opening day first baseman, started in left and went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs, while Chad Tracy took over at first. Miguel Montero, who was 1-for-4, becomes the everyday catcher.

Injury concerns have also thrown Wednesday's starting assignment into doubt. Micah Owings (6-7, 5.18 ERA) is scheduled to get the ball, but he tweaked his gluteus muscle in his last start on Friday and might not be able to go.

Manager Bob Melvin said that righty Yusmeiro Petit will take the mound if Owings can't.

Owings is 0-5 with an 8.28 ERA in six starts since his last win on May 25 in Atlanta. He gave up three runs in four innings of Friday's 3-1 loss in Florida.

Owings has lost both of his previous starts against the Brewers, posting an 8.00 ERA in those outings, both at Miller Park. He gave up five runs in three innings of a 10-1 loss in Milwaukee on June 4.

Milwaukee won for the second time in six games on Wednesday. J.J. Hardy homered twice and Joe Dillon also connected for the Brewers, who matched their combined scoring total from their last three games.

Hardy is batting .377 (20-for-53) during a 13-game hitting streak for Milwaukee, which has won four of five against Arizona this season.

"It's the best it's been all year," Hardy said. "I think earlier in the season, I couldn't get extended."

Now, Milwaukee will hand the ball to starter Seth McClung (5-3, 4.25), who gave up five runs in 4 2-3 innings Friday but escaped without a decision in Milwaukee's 7-6 loss in Minnesota. The right-hander had gone at least six innings and yielded two or fewer runs in each of his previous four starts, going 3-1 in those outings.

McClung is 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA in two career appearances against the Diamondbacks. His lone start against them came on June 3, when he allowed one run in six innings of a 7-1 home win.