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Dodgers continue ascent in NL West

Jul 5, 2008 - 1:06 PM LA Dodgers (42-44) at San Francisco (38-49) 9:05pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- In the mediocre National League West, any team that gets on a roll can make a run up the standings very quickly. Over the last week, the Los Angeles Dodgers have done exactly that.

The Dodgers eye their fifth straight win on Saturday when they continue their three-game set with the San Francisco Giants.

Arizona (43-44) leads Los Angeles by a half-game in the NL West, which is the only division in the majors that does not feature a team with a winning record.

With their recent run, the Dodgers are trying to change that with victories in six of their last eight games. Since falling to a season-low seven games (31-38) under .500 on June 15, Los Angeles is 11-6 and has trimmed five games off Arizona's divisional lead.

Two of those wins were credited two Chan Ho Park (4-2, 2.45 ERA), who will make his fourth start of the season Saturday.

The righthander, who threw 1 1/3 scoreless frames to get the decision in a relief outing in Tuesday's 7-6 win over Houston, is 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in three starts this season, holding opponents to a .185 batting average. Park has yet to allow more than one earned run in any of his starts.

The Giants will counter with Barry Zito (3-12, 5.99), who will hope to avoid his major league-high 13th loss, which would also match his career high. The lefthander took the loss in Monday's 9-2 setback to the Chicago Cubs when he surrendered five runs - four earned - and six hits with five walks over five innings.