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Diamondbacks-Cubs Preview

Apr 29, 2010 - 11:40 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Arizona (10-11) at Chicago (10-12), 2:20 p.m. EDT

With Kelly Johnson leading the way, the Arizona Diamondbacks are enjoying their best stretch at the plate this season.

Johnson, coming off yet another strong game, leads the Diamondbacks as they try to win three straight for the first time this season Friday night in a matchup with the Chicago Cubs.

Arizona (11-11) has won six of nine following a five-game losing streak. The Diamondbacks have overcome some lackluster pitching over that stretch with stellar performances at the plate, scoring 25 runs en route to winning their last two games.

Four different players homered for Arizona as it opened this four-game series with a 13-5 win Thursday. The Diamondbacks are 8-0 when homering at least twice and 0-6 when failing to go deep.

Arizona has a major league-best 33 homers.

"Obviously, nobody expected this," first baseman Adam LaRoche said. "It's amazing. We all hope he keeps it up."

LaRoche drove in five runs with two homers and a double, and Johnson also connected for Arizona. Johnson has nine home runs, hitting six over his last seven games.

Johnson also had three singles to raise his average to .320. It has been an unexpectedly strong start for the second baseman, who hit .224 with eight homers in 303 at-bats last season.

Johnson is hitting .371 (13 for 35) at Wrigley Field.

LaRoche is batting .455 (10 for 22) with three homers and 11 RBIs in his last six games there. He's coming off his 13th career multihomer game, and his five RBIs matched a career high.

Arizona's lineup had a big game the last time Rodrigo Lopez (1-0, 4.88 ERA) took the mound. Lopez is set to start for the first time since surrendering six runs and 10 hits in six innings before the Diamondbacks rallied to beat Philadelphia 8-6 on Sunday.

The right-hander is 1-1 with a 7.59 ERA in two starts versus the Cubs.

Chicago (10-13) will counter with Randy Wells (2-0, 2.49), who has given up two runs or fewer in three of his four starts. The right-hander earned a win in his last outing, allowing two runs and striking out six in seven innings as Chicago beat Milwaukee 12-2 on Sunday.

Wells won his only start against the Diamondbacks, striking out 10 in seven innings of a 5-0 victory Oct. 3.

Chicago, which has lost five of six at home, could use a boost from Wells. The Cubs struggled against the Diamondbacks after posting a 2.25 ERA in their previous eight games.

Chicago has surrendered six homers in its last two games after not giving one up in its previous six contests.

"We've got to have a little urgency," manager Lou Piniella said.

One of the few bright spots for the Cubs was Kosuke Fukudome, who hit his first career grand slam. The right fielder is batting .328 with four homers and 15 RBIs.

Chicago slugger Derrek Lee, meanwhile, has five hits in his last 49 at-bats, dropping his average to .193. The veteran first baseman is 3 for 27 (.111) in his last seven games versus the Diamondbacks.