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Dodgers-Diamondbacks Preview

May 11, 2010 - 6:45 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Los Angeles (14-17) at Arizona (14-18), 9:40 p.m. EDT

With help from Phoenix native Andre Ethier, the Los Angeles Dodgers are thriving against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Getting hits off Dan Haren may prove a tougher test.

Haren will try to help Arizona avoid a season high-tying fifth straight loss by earning his fourth consecutive win Tuesday night at Chase Field against Los Angeles as these NL West rivals continue a three-game set.

The Dodgers (15-17) have scored 29 runs and batted .335 while winning three of four matchups against Arizona this season. Ethier has played a big part, hitting .455 (10 for 22) with a homer and six RBIs.

He went 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs to help Los Angeles earn a 7-3 victory in Monday night's series opener.

The performance boosted Ethier's major league-leading average to .393 and moved him into the major-league RBI lead with 34. Despite having only one homer in his last seven games, Ethier is tied for the NL lead with 10 in 2010.

"I'm going up there trying to get a good pitch to hit, putting a good swing on it," Ethier said. "I think I've become a little bit smarter with my approach and my swing. I know my swing a lot better and what has led to my success in my career, and I try not to shy away from that."

Ethier is 11 for 30 with two homers against Haren (4-1, 4.04 ERA), but the Dodgers have batted .198 as a team in five starts against the Arizona right-hander since the beginning of last season.

Haren allowed two runs over 6 1-3 innings April 15 at Dodger Stadium, but the Diamondbacks (14-19) came up short in a 6-5 loss in 10 innings. That defeat launched Arizona's previous five-game slide, which ended April 20 when Haren defeated St. Louis.

Haren pitched his first complete game of the season Thursday night, striking out nine and allowing seven hits in a 6-3 win at Houston.

"Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come," he said.

While Haren will try to add to his recent success, Dodgers rookie John Ely will take a third crack at his first major league win.

After struggling in his debut, Ely (0-1, 4.26) allowed one run over 6 2-3 innings, did not walk a batter and struck out seven Thursday against Milwaukee. However, closer Jonathan Broxton allowed the Brewers to score the tying runs in the ninth before Ethier hit a grand slam to give Los Angeles a 7-3 victory.

Having dropped four in a row on its six-game homestand, Arizona is on the verge of matching last season's longest skid at Chase Field from June 24-28.