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Pirates seek to end three-game slide

Jun 2, 2007 - 2:26 PM LA Dodgers (32-22) at Pittsburgh (23-31) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - The struggling Pittsburgh Pirates will try to snap a three-game losing streak when they face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

In Friday's series opener, Russell Martin's solo homer broke a tie in the fifth inning and closer Takashi Saito recorded his 26th straight save as the Dodgers held on for a 5-4 triumph.

The Pirates have dropped four of their last five games.

Ian Snell (4-4. 3.14 ERA), who enters riding a two-game slide of his won, gets the start for Pittsburgh. In his last outing vs. Los Angeles, the righthander yielded two runs through seven frames but did not figure into the decision on April 21 at Dodgers stadium.

Snell is 1-1 in five lifetime outings against the Dodgers.

Los Angeles counters with Hong-Chih Kuo (0-0, 15.43) on the hill. The lefthander makes his first start of the season in place of Brett Tomko, who has been demoted to the bullpen.

Kuo has been less than impressive since returning from an injured shoulder, allowing four runs in 2 1/3 innings in two relief appearances.

Pittsburgh's Chris Duffy looks to continue his stellar play at the No. 2 spot in the lineup. The center fielder has five doubles and two triples through his last 10 games.