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With Maddux back in fold, Dodgers eye strong finish

Aug 22, 2008 - 10:20 AM LA Dodgers (65-62) at Philadelphia (68-59) 7:05pm ET

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping their history with Greg Maddux repeats itself.

Maddux (6-9, 3.99 ERA) makes his first start since being acquired from the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, when the Dodgers face the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.

In 2006, the Dodgers acquired the righthander from the Chicago Cubs at the trading deadline and he helped them overcome a five-game deficit and secure a playoff berth. Los Angeles hopes a similar situation plays out this season.

When the Dodgers made that move to land Maddux they were 50-55.

Los Angeles had won three games prior to the trade, reeled off eight more wins, sparking a 37-19 finish that pulled it even with the Padres by the end of the season, locking up a wild-card berth while San Diego capture the NL West via tiebreaker.

Maddux tossed six innings of no-hit ball in his 2006 Dodger debut, and finished with a 6-3 record and 3.30 ERA in LA.

The four-time NL All-Star, who will tie Roger Clemens for eighth place on the all-time list win list with 354 with his next victory, was in fine form once again during last Friday's 1-0 Padre setback to the Phillies. The righthander took the loss despite yielding a run and five hits over seven frames.

He'll try to help the Dodgers close the two-game gap the Arizona Diamondbacks (67-60) hold in the division, and continue the struggles of Kyle Kendrick (10-7, 5.01), who will attempt to rebound from a pair of poor starts.

The righthander suffered his second straight setback in an 8-3 loss to the Padres, surrendering six runs and six hits over 3 2/3 innings one start after the Dodgers roughed him up for seven runs over 3 1/3 innings in a 8-6 defeat on August 11.