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Dodgers-Diamondbacks Preview

May 12, 2010 - 7:00 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (15-17) at Arizona (14-19), 9:40 p.m. EDT

A series at Chase Field has helped the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup snap out of a slump. The Arizona Diamondbacks haven't been nearly as fortunate in the desert.

Coming off one of their best performances at the plate this season, the Dodgers look to sweep a three-game series with the struggling Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.

Los Angeles (16-17) totaled two runs in its last two games before visiting Arizona, but ended the rut with a 7-2 victory in the series opener Monday night. The Dodgers then clinched their first road series win of the season Tuesday by routing the Diamondbacks (14-20) 13-3.

Russell Martin had two hits, including a three-run homer, to extend his hitting streak to seven games for Los Angeles. Martin also has two home runs and five RBIs in his last three road games.

Dodgers first baseman James Loney is 6 for 10 with a homer, two doubles and four RBIs in this series after going 0 for 13 over his previous four games. Loney is batting .421 in 27 career games at Arizona.

The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, are battling through their worst stretch at the plate this season. Arizona has lost the first five games of a six-game homestand, scoring two runs or fewer in each contest and striking out 49 times.

"Nobody's hitting. That's the bottom line," third baseman Mark Reynolds said. "It's tough to string stuff together when nobody's getting on base."

Tied with Kelly Johnson for the club lead in home runs with 10, Reynolds is 3 for 21 (.143) over his last six games and 3 for 18 (.167) in his last six home games against the Dodgers.

Reynolds is also 1 for 16 (.063) with eight strikeouts against Hiroki Kuroda (3-1, 2.70 ERA), Wednesday's probable starter for the Dodgers. Kuroda (3-1, 2.70 ERA) struggled in his last outing, though, giving up five runs and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings without receiving a decision in a 6-5 win over Colorado on Friday night.

The right-hander had surrendered three earned runs or fewer in each of his previous five starts.

Kuroda is 1-3 with a 3.65 ERA in seven starts versus the Diamondbacks. He faced Arizona on April 15 in Los Angeles, giving up three runs and 10 hits while striking out seven in seven innings. The Dodgers won 6-5 in 12 innings.

Kuroda will match up with Edwin Jackson (1-4, 7.32), who has seen a terrible start to his first season with the Diamondbacks continue with losses in his last three starts. The right-hander fell victim to poor run support in his last outing, yielding three runs and striking out seven in seven respectable innings but winding up on the short end of Friday's 3-2 loss to Milwaukee.

Jackson had a 25.58 ERA over his previous two outings.

Originally a product of the Los Angeles farm system, Jackson has faced the Dodgers once before. He allowed two runs in six innings for Tampa Bay in a 9-4 win June 24, 2007.

If Jackson has another poor outing, Arizona will have not choice but to turn to its beleaguered bullpen again. Diamondbacks relievers have allowed 26 runs in 11 2-3 innings over the last four games.

"Something's got to give," manager A.J. Hinch said. "This is going on entirely too long. It's frustrating, that's the easy word to use. It's pathetic. It's not acceptable at this level."