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Dodgers-Diamondbacks Preview

May 10, 2010 - 2:56 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (13-17) at Arizona (14-17), 9:40 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Dodgers are struggling through one of their worst stretches at the plate this season. A series with the Arizona Diamondbacks may help them end their rut.

In the opener of a six-game road trip, the Dodgers look to continue their success against the Diamondbacks and their struggling pitching Monday night.

Though Los Angeles (14-17) has won six of nine, its lineup sputtered down the stretch of a three-game series with Colorado over the weekend. The Dodgers needed an outstanding performance from starter Clayton Kershaw to beat the Rockies 2-0 on Sunday, a day after stranding nine runners in an 8-0 defeat.

Against Arizona (14-18) last month, Los Angeles was much more productive. The Dodgers won two of three games at home versus the Diamondbacks from April 13-15, averaging 7.3 runs while hitting .350 with six home runs and eight doubles.

Los Angeles opens this three-game series with a one-half game lead over Arizona, which is in last place mostly due to its poor pitching. The Diamondbacks' 5.50 ERA is second-worst in the majors and their 50 home runs allowed are nine more than any other team.

Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez went 5 for 10 with a homer - one of his two this season - and four RBIs against the Diamondbacks in April. The 12-time All-Star is hitting .488 with four homers and seven RBIs in 14 games at Arizona.

Los Angeles right fielder Andre Ethier, a native of Phoenix and a former Arizona State star, is 10 for 25 (.400) with a home run and six RBIs in his last five games against the Diamondbacks. Ethier was 18 for 35 (.514) with five homers and 15 RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak before going 0 for 3 on Sunday.

Los Angeles, playing the first of six straight road games, faces an Arizona team that has surrendered 23 runs in its last two games.

"Now that we're playing in our division and we continue to do that, maybe we can get on a little roll," manager Joe Torre told the Dodgers' official website. "That's what we need to do."

The Diamondbacks were swept in a three-game set with Milwaukee over the weekend, losing the finale 6-1 on Sunday. Arizona's bullpen surrendered 14 runs in seven innings in the series.

"We need to pick ourselves and get back at it because the Dodgers come to town ... and they always play us tough," manager A.J. Hinch said.

Rodrigo Lopez (1-1, 4.14 ERA) takes the mound for the Diamondbacks.

He had a tough time against the Dodgers on April 14, allowing five runs and 11 hits in five innings before Arizona rallied to win 9-7 in 12 innings. Lopez is 1-1 with a 3.26 ERA in five starts against the Dodgers.

Lopez, though, has given up two runs or fewer in four of his six starts, including his last two. The right-hander surrendered a season-low three hits in seven innings of a 4-2 loss to Houston on Wednesday night.

Los Angeles will counter with Chad Billingsley (2-2, 5.06), who struggled in his last outing, giving up four runs and seven hits in six innings of an 11-3 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday night. He has not made it into the seventh inning of any of his six starts.

The right-hander is 6-5 with a 3.94 ERA in 14 starts versus the Diamondbacks.