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Cubs look to continue winning ways against Diamondbacks

Jul 21, 2007 - 1:34 PM Arizona (50-48) at Chicago Cubs (51-44) 1:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- One of baseball hottest teams, the Chicago Cubs look to continue their strong play when they continue their weekend series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.

Chicago has won three straight games and are 29-13 since June 3 to nearly close the gap in the National League Central.

Jacque Jones had a pair of RBI singles and Aramis Ramirez added a three-run homer as the Cubs beat the Diamondbacks, 6-2, in Friday's series opener. Coupled with the Milwaukee Brewers' loss to the San Francisco Giants on Friday, Chicago trails by 2 1/2 games.

However, victories have been elusive for Cubs starter Rich Hill (6-6, 3.70 ERA) this past month, but he did pick up a win in his last start Monday.

After going 0-2 in five previous starts, the 6-5 lefthander allowed two runs and four hits in eight innings of a 3-2 victory over San Francisco. Lefthanded hitters are batting just .202 against Hill this season.

Micah Owings (5-5, 4.92) takes the mound for Arizona, which has lost five of six games overall and nine of its last 10 on the road. The 24-year-old righthander has lost each of his last four starts, posting a 7.83 ERA over that span.

Jacque Jones had a pair of RBI singles and Aramis Ramirez added a three-run homer as the Cubs beat Diamondbacks, 6-2, in Friday's series opener here.