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Ramirez, Billingsley attempt to keep Dodgers rolling vs. Rockies

Sep 12, 2008 - 10:10 AM LA Dodgers (75-71) at Colorado (67-80) 9:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- Any long winning stretch in the mediocre National League West is likely to cause some separation. The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the midst of one and are starting to pull away from the pack as a result.

The Dodgers eye their 11th win in 12 contests on Friday when they face the fading Colorado Rockies.

After losing eight straight on the road from August 22-29 to fall 4 1/2 games behind Arizona (71-74), Los Angeles has put together its best stretch of the season. The Dodgers have surged to a season-high 3 1/2-game lead over the Diamondbacks with just over two weeks remaining in the regular season.

While Arizona's 2-9 record over that same stretch has aided matters, Manny Ramirez has been instrumental in Los Angeles' rise, batting .396 with 14 homers and 40 RBI since his arrival from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline.

The Dodgers, who are the only team with a winning record in the NL West, will look to keep rolling behind Chad Billingsley (14-10, 3.02 ERA), who has been sharp during Los Angeles' run. He won his second straight start in Saturday's 7-2 triumph of Arizona, allowing four hits and striking out nine over 6 1/3 scoreless innings.

Colorado, which has dropped five straight, will counter with Jeff Francis (4-9, 5.03), who has come on lately - despite his first setback in nearly a month in his last turn - after a miserable start to the season.

The lefthander is 1-1 with a 2.05 ERA over his last four starts, but was saddled with a loss in Saturday's 2-0 setback against Houston despite permitting two runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings.