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Dodgers open six-game homestand vs. Giants

Sep 19, 2008 - 10:17 AM San Francisco (68-85) at LA Dodgers (80-73) 10:40 p.m. EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- A six-game homestand couldn't have come at a better time for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers try to move one step closer to the National League West title when they host the San Francisco Giants on Friday.

Los Angeles, which owns a 3 1/2-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks (76-76) in the NL West, returns home after going 7-3 on its recent 10-game road trip. While the Dodgers managed to find success on the road, they have been much better at home, winning seven straight to tie the Diamondbacks and New York Mets with a league-high 45 wins.

Manny Ramirez has been the main reason for the strong performance at Dodgers Stadium. Since being acquired from the Boston Red Sox on July 31, Ramirez is batting .410 (25-for-61) with six home runs and 24 RBI in 19 home games.

Ramirez looks to continue his tear against Barry Zito (9-16, 5.48 ERA), who will try to avoid his major league-leading 17th loss.

San Francisco has won each of Zito's last three starts, but the 2002 American League Cy Young Award winner was pounded for six runs - five earned - and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. Zito walked five and struck out one but did not factor in the decision during Sunday's 8-6 win over the San Diego Padres.

Greg Maddux (7-12, 4.08) tries to continue his dominance of the Giants. Maddux is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in four starts against San Francisco this season. All of those outings came with the San Diego Padres, who traded Maddux to Los Angeles on August 19.