• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Dodgers eye third straight sweep

May 4, 2008 - 2:35 PM LA Dodgers (17-13) at Colorado (11-19) 3:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- A sputtering offense led the Los Angeles Dodgers to their worst 22-game start in five seasons. Thanks in large part to the Colorado Rockies, they have not had trouble scoring since.

The Dodgers target their ninth straight win - and third straight series sweep - on Sunday when they face the Rockies in the finale of a three-game series with the Rockies.

During its long winning streak, Los Angeles has taken five consecutive games from Colorado, starting with the Dodgers' three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium from April 25-27. The Dodgers then took three straight from the Florida Marlins before winning the first two games of this set.

On Saturday, James Loney homered and drove in six runs as Los Angeles rolled to a 12-7 victory.

Los Angeles can thank a resurgent offense for its recent turn of fortunes. The Dodgers are averaging 8.8 runs during their winning streak, more than twice the 4.3 runs they scored in their 9-13 start, matching the team's record for poorest start set in 2003.

Another strong offensive showing on Sunday may lead to a longer outing by Los Angeles' Derek Lowe (2-1, 2.88 ERA), who has not gone more than five innings over his last three starts after lasting at least six frames in each of his first three turns.

The sinkerballer did not factor in the decision during Tuesday's 7-6 win over Florida as he allowed six runs - three earned - and eight hits in five innings.

Aaron Cook (4-1, 2.41) will put his own winning streak on the line as he opposes Lowe in the finale. The righthander won his fourth straight start on Tuesday, yielding two unearned runs and 10 hits over seven innings in a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants.