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Dodgers-Diamondbacks Preview

Jul 4, 2010 - 6:20 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (43-36) at Arizona (32-48), 4:10 p.m. EDT

Playing without Manny Ramirez obviously isn't an ideal situation for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but they're proving they can still win without their slugger.

The Dodgers, who have placed Ramirez on the disabled list, look to build on their highest-scoring game in nearly 2 1/2 months and win for the fifth time in six games in Sunday's road series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ramirez strained his hamstring when his right foot made contact with the glove of San Francisco's Edgar Renteria in a play at second base in Tuesday's 4-2 victory. The 12-time All-Star, batting .322 with eight homers and 39 RBIs in 59 games, hasn't played since and was finally put on the 15-day DL Saturday, retroactive to Wednesday.

Hours after Los Angeles (44-36) decided to shut Ramirez down, the team defeated the Diamondbacks 14-1. It was the Dodgers' most-lopsided win of the season and the most runs they'd scored since a 14-6 victory in Cincinnati on April 21.

"We scored and we kept coming at people," manager Joe Torre said. "That's a manager's dream when offenses do that."

Matt Kemp, Rafael Furcal and Andre Ethier all homered and Ramirez's replacement Xavier Paul, just called up from Triple-A Albuquerque, singled twice, drove in two runs and scored twice. The Dodgers, who remain 3 1/2 games behind NL West-leading San Diego, won for the third time in four games without Ramirez after going 7-10 in their first 17 games without him.

Los Angeles' impressive win also may have been the most embarrassing game of the season for the Diamondbacks (32-49).

After an emotional 12-5 victory in Kirk Gibson's managerial debut Friday, Arizona set a franchise record with six errors by a lineup that included five players who normally are backups.

Gibson, who has said he wants his whole team to see regular playing time, decided to sit first baseman Adam LaRoche, second baseman Kelly Johnson, catcher Miguel Montero and left fielder Gerardo Parra. Shortstop Stephen Drew didn't play because of a sore left knee.

The new manager said "shock value" was one reason for the lineup shakeup.

Gibson will give the ball to Dan Haren (7-6, 4.56 ERA) in the series finale.

Haren gave up five runs and 10 hits in eight innings Monday, but didn't receive a decision in a 6-5 loss to St. Louis.

The right-hander is winless in his last three starts, and hasn't made four straight starts without a victory since Aug. 25-Sept. 10, 2008. It could be tough for him to end the current skid against the Dodgers.

Although Haren has a 2.61 ERA in three starts against Los Angeles this season, he has an 0-1 record to show for it due to three total runs of support in those outings. The three-time All-Star's best start of the season came at Dodger Stadium on June 1, when he scattered seven hits in eight scoreless innings of a 1-0, 10-inning loss.

Los Angeles counters with Chad Billingsley (6-4, 4.25), who allowed two runs in six innings Monday, when he didn't factor in the decision of a 4-2 win over San Francisco. It was the first start since June 11 for the right-hander, who returned after a DL stint due to a right groin injury.

It was an encouraging outing for Billingsley, who went 0-2 with a 6.41 ERA in his final three starts before being sidelined.

Billingsley is 1-0 with a 5.68 ERA in three outings versus the Diamondbacks in 2010. In his last start against them May 31 at home, he allowed four runs while striking out a season-best 11 in eight innings. He received no decision as the Dodgers rallied to win 5-4.