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Lowe tries to keep Dodgers on track vs. Pirates

Sep 16, 2008 - 1:35 PM LA DODGERS (78-72) AT PITTSBURGH (63-87), 7:05pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Derek Lowe has been here before, and lately he's been acting like it.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' righthander, a veteran of two deep playoff runs with the Boston Red Sox in 2003 and 2004, looks for his fourth win in a row on Tuesday as the surging Dodgers visit the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Lowe (13-11, 3.48 ERA) has allowed just one run total over his last three starts as the Dodgers have vaulted into first place in the National League West. Now leading the Arizona Diamondbacks (73-76) by 4 1/2 games, the Dodgers have won 13 of their last 15 games and now send one of their most experienced postseason performers to the hill.

Just six weeks ago, Lowe was coming off his worst start of the year, having given up eight runs and 13 hits and 3 1/3 innings in a 9-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on August 6. In seven starts since, he has gone 5-1 with a 1.50 ERA.

He has also never lost to the Pirates, picking up victories in all five of his career starts against them.

Facing off against Lowe will be Pirates righthander Jeff Karstens (2-5, 4.46), whose Pirates career began brilliantly after they acquired him from the New York Yankees.

After not allowing a run in his first two starts in a Pittsburgh uniform - including a near-perfect game on August 6, he has gotten progressively worse. In his last start, he lasted just three innings, giving up five runs and six hits in an 11-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants on September 7.