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Red-hot Diamondbacks set to host Nationals

Aug 10, 2007 - 2:51 PM Washington (53-62) at Arizona (65-51) 9:40 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have pushed their way to the top of the National League West. They will look to continue their winning ways when they host the Washington Nationals on Friday.

The Diamondbacks have won seven of their last nine contests and 15 of 18 to move three games up on the San Diego Padres (61-53) in the NL West. They picked up a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday to capture their sixth straight series.

The Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants, 3-1, on Thursday to earn a split of their four-game series. No doubt the Washington players will be happy to return to normal baseball after enduring the circus that surrounds Barry Bonds for the past four days.

Starting for the Nationals, who have gone 43-37 since beginning the season 9-25, will be Matt Chico (5-6, 4.76 ERA). The rookie lefthander has put together two solid outings in a row, yielding a total of five earned runs in 10 innings against the Reds and Cardinals.

Arizona will counter with Livan Hernandez (7-7, 4.83). The hefty veteran spent over 3 1/2 seasons with the Washington-Montreal franchise before moving to the Diamondbacks last August.

The veteran righthander is 2-2 over his last three starts, allowing just two earned runs in the wins while surrendering 13 earned runs over 9 1/3 innings in the pair of losses.