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Dodgers-Diamondbacks Preview

Sep 7, 2009 - 5:23 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (81-56) at Arizona (61-76), 3:40 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off a loss in which the decisive run was scored on a homer. Their pitchers may want to stress keeping the ball down against Chris Young and Mark Reynolds.

Following a subpar homestand, the Dodgers look to shut down Young, Reynolds and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.

Los Angeles (81-57) finished up a 3-4 stretch at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night, losing the finale 4-3 to San Diego. Adrian Gonzalez homered to give the Padres and 4-1 lead in the fifth inning, and the NL West-leading Dodgers' comeback attempt fell short.

"Anytime you lose games you're losing opportunities to better yourself for the postseason," Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier told the team's official Web site. "It's September and we need to put everything behind us and look forward and win games to get to the playoffs."

It was the first time in three games Los Angeles has surrendered a home run. The 107 homers allowed by the Dodgers are the third-fewest in the majors.

Los Angeles has yielded 10 in going 9-6 against Arizona (61-77), but the Diamondbacks enter this three-game set following an impressive power performance.

Arizona lost 13-5 to Colorado on Sunday, its fourth straight loss, but Young hit a career-high three home runs and Reynolds connected for his 41st.

It was the seventh career multihomer game for Young, who entered the game with seven homers after totaling 54 the previous two years.

Reynolds drew within three home runs of St. Louis' Albert Pujols, who leads the majors. The third baseman, though, is hitting .167 with two home runs in 15 games against Los Angeles this year.

Young and Reynolds got little help as the Diamondbacks stranded seven runners in scoring position to conclude a 2-5 road trip.

"We're a tired bunch, but that's not an excuse," Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said. "We haven't managed to do our job offensively. When we get streaky like this, we tend to press with runners in scoring position, and the at-bats get over in a hurry."

The Diamondbacks will now face Dodgers starter Vicente Padilla (9-6, 4.72 ERA) for the second time in less than a week. The veteran right-hander did not receive a decision despite giving up one run while striking out five in 5 1-3 innings of Los Angeles' 4-3 victory Tuesday night.

Padilla is 4-3 with a 4.17 ERA in eight starts versus the Diamondbacks.

Arizona will counter with Mark Scherzer (9-8, 4.10), who earned a win against the Dodgers on Wednesday night. He allowed one run in 7 2-3 innings as the Diamondbacks won 4-1.

Scherzer, who had a 5.45 ERA in his previous seven outings, is 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA in three career starts against the Dodgers.

The right-hander will be facing a Los Angeles lineup that has been struggling, scoring three runs or fewer in 10 of 16 games.

Ethier, who leads the Dodgers with 28 home runs, is batting .205 over his last 11 contests. The right fielder, though, is hitting .348 with 40 RBIs in 61 games versus the Diamondbacks.