Dodgers to hold key weekend set with first-place Diamondbacks

Sep 14, 2007, 15:31 GMT

- Two teams gearing up for the postseason stretch drive will square off this evening, as the Los Angeles Dodgers host the National League West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks in the first of three straight games at Chavez Ravine.

Arizona is four games ahead of San Diego in the division standings and has won seven of its last eight games. In Thursday's finale of a three-game series with San Francisco, Mark Reynolds and Chris Snyder both homered and starter Brandon Webb allowed four runs on seven hits with two strikeouts over seven innings to win for the eighth time in 10 starts.

Stephen Drew and Conor Jackson both had two hits and drove in two runs for the Diamondbacks, who will send Doug Davis to the hill on Friday. Davis is 3-0 in his last four starts and 8-1 over his previous 12 trips to the mound.

Davis did not post a decision his last time out on Sunday versus St. Louis after previously ripping off three straight wins. He gave up four runs and seven hits in four innings of work as the D'Backs notched a 6-5 victory over the Cardinals at Chase Field.

Through four career starts against Los Angeles, Davis is 3-1 and has not yielded an earned run in 30 innings pitched against the Dodgers. The lefty, who is 13-11 with a 4.09 ERA in 30 starts this season, pitched eight shutout innings of three-hit ball against Los Angeles on August 1 at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers ace Brad Penny will take the mound tonight and is 15-4 with a 2.81 ERA in 30 starts this season. Penny is 1-0 over his last three starts and did not factor in the outcome of a 4-2 loss against San Francisco on Sunday. Penny allowed a pair of runs and eight hits through seven innings at AT&T Park.

The All-Star right-hander, who is 7-2 at home this season, owns a solid 7-3 mark with a 1.96 earned run average in 15 career starts versus Arizona. He lost his last encounter with Arizona, though, allowing three runs over seven innings of a 3-0 setback at Dodger Stadium on August 5.

Los Angeles is tied with Philadelphia at 1 1/2 games behind the Padres for the top spot in the NL wild card standings. The Dodgers have won two straight and three of five to stay within striking distance of San Diego, and recorded a 6-3 win over the Padres in Thursday's finale of a three-game set.

James Loney went 3-for-4 with four RBI and former Padre David Wells got the better of his old club, picking up the win after tossing six innings of three- run, four-hit ball.

Wells, who went 5-8 with a 5.54 earned run average in 22 games with the Padres before being placed on waivers, is unbeaten in his last four outings (3-0). He also had two hits at the plate.

Los Angles was swept in three games by Arizona from August 3-5 at Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers have won seven of the 12 meetings in 2007 and are 9-6 in their last 15 home matchups with the D'Backs.

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