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Surging Cubs aim to stay hot vs. Diamondbacks

Jul 20, 2007 - 2:31 PM Arizona (50-47) at Chicago Cubs (50-44) 2:20 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Jason Marquis will take the mound as the Chicago Cubs aim to continue their hot play when they take on Brandon Webb and the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game set on Friday afternoon.

The surging Cubs staved off the San Francisco Giants, 9-8, on Thursday to win for the 18th time in their last 23 games.

Chicago will look to keep it going behind Marquis (6-5, 4.03 ERA), who is coming off two of his worst outings of the season. The righthander allowed 12 runs and 16 hits in his last 8 2/3 innings - spanning two starts.

Marquis is 1-3 with a 2.84 ERA in seven games - six starts - against the Diamondbacks in his career.

He will be opposed by Webb (8-7, 3.42), who yielded four runs - three earned - and 11 hits in 5 2/3 frames in a 4-0 loss to the San Diego Padres last Sunday. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner is 4-0 with a 2.52 ERA in six starts vs. the Cubs in his career.

The Diamondbacks, who suffered a 10-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon, have lost four of their last five games.