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Lee, Cubs hope to avoid third straight loss

May 26, 2008 - 1:26 PM La Dodgers (26-23) at Chicago Cubs (29-21) 2:20 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Derrek Lee and the Chicago Cubs will look to rebound from back-to-back extra-inning losses when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.

Despite the losses, Lee had a pair of hits in each of those games to extend his hitting streak to six games. The 32-year-old slugger is batting .301 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI this season.

Lee will hope to continue his hot hitting when he faces Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley (4-5, 3.76 ERA), who is seeking his third straight win and his fifth in six starts.

Billingsley tossed seven scoreless frames in Tuesday's 4-1 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds, allowing just four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

The Dodgers avoided a third straight loss Sunday, recording a 4-3 extra-inning victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Andre Either's walk-off hit in the 10th frame.

The Cubs, who have lost four their previous five contests, will send Ryan Dempster (5-2, 2.70 ERA) to the mound. The righthander gave up four runs over six innings during Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Houston Astros.