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Division leaders do battle in key NL matchup

Aug 24, 2007 - 2:28 PM Chicago Cubs (65-61) at Arizona (72-56) 9:40 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Micah Owings had an outing of a lifetime his last time out. He'll aim for an encore performance as the National League West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks begin a three-game set against the NL Central-frontrunning Chicago Cubs on Friday.

Owings (6-6, 4.70 ERA) put in a fine performance on the mound on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves (66-62), picking up a win for the first time since June 20 - a span of 11 starts. He yielded three runs and three hits over seven frames - striking out seven - in his longest outing since a complete game win against Houston on May 24.

However, it was the numbers Owings compiled at the plate that game that really turned heads, belting two homers as part of a four-hit night in which he recorded six RBI.

The righthander became the first pitcher to have six RBI in a game since the Phillies' Robert Person tallied seven on June 2, 2002 and the first to hit two homers in a game since Florida's Dontrelle Willis did it on September 20.

The 24-year-old will be facing the Cubs for the first time.

His opponent will be Sean Marshall (6-6, 4.21), who won for the first time in four starts in Saturday's 5-3 win over St. Louis in which he allowed two runs and five hits over five innings. He dropped his only other outing Arizona on July 22 despite one run and five hits over six frames in a 3-0 setback.

Chicago acquired Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe, who had been designated for assignment, from Detroit for a player to be named later on Thursday. His status for the series opener is unknown.