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Dodgers hope to avoid setting dubious shutout record

Aug 9, 2007 - 1:53 PM LA Dodgers (58-55) at Cincinnati (49-64) 12:35 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers hope to avoid getting shut out in four straight games for the first time in 49 years.

The Dodgers will hope to avoid a record that dates back to the franchise's days in Brooklyn when they hope to avoid a three-game sweep against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.

Los Angeles has lost a season-high six consecutive games and have been held scoreless in the last three. It was the first time since 1966 that the Dodgers failed to score at least one run over a three-game span.

Rookie Phil Dumatrait (0-1, 16.20 ERA) will be looking to extend the Dodgers' misery as he makes his second career start. The lefthander had a brief debut in the major league last Thursday against the Washington Nationals, surrendering six runs and eight hits over just 3 1/3 innings in a 7-3 loss.

He did, however, go 10-5 with a 3.49 ERA in 21 minor league starts and will be making his first home start for Cincinnati, which will be seeking its season-high fifth straight win.

Opposing the 26-year-old will be Brett Tomko (2-9, 5.56), who will aim to snap a three-game personal winless streak. Despite pitching better after the All-Star break (3.68 ERA) than he was before (6.18), he has managed just one win.

In a 4-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants last Thursday, Tomko allowed three runs and five hits over five frames. Against the team that he spent his first three major league seasons with, the righthander is 2-3 with a 6.22 ERA in 12 games - nine starts - vs. the Reds.