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Davis hopes to lead Diamondbacks to sixth straight win

Apr 8, 2008 - 1:07 PM LA Dodgers (4-3) at Arizona (5-2) 9:40 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Rare is the time when a pitcher knows in advance of a start that it will be his last one for a while. Such is the case for Doug Davis.

Scheduled to undergo cancer surgery in two days, Doug Davis puts his long record of success against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the line when the National League West Division rivals play the second of a three-game set on Tuesday.

During a routine physical in February, it was revealed that Davis (0-1, 4.91 ERA) had a lump in his throat. Shortly thereafter, a biopsy confirmed that he had thyroid cancer and would need surgery to remove the tumor.

The Diamondbacks hope to send the lefthander out on a good note, not that he has needed much help lately against the Dodgers. Davis is 3-2 with a 1.04 ERA in five lifetime starts against Los Angeles, with all four earned runs he has allowed to the Dodgers coming in his last start against them last season.

To maintain that level of success, Davis will need to pitch better than he did in Thursday's 3-2 loss against Cincinnati. He surrendered three runs and four hits while walking six in just 3 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers will counter with Chad Billingsley (0-0, 3.86 ERA), who - despite being the team's No. 3 starter - will be making his first start of the season.

Inclement weather wrecked his plans of making his first start on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants, although he came on in relief later in the game. He also came on in relief two days later, tossing two scoreless frames in a 7-1 win over the San Diego Padres.

Arizona, which leads the majors with 16 home runs, claimed the first game of the series in Monday's 9-3 win over Los Angeles. Mark Reynolds homered twice while Chris Young and Orlando Hudson also went deep.