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Dodgers-Cubs Preview

May 29, 2009 - 5:55 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (34-15) at Chicago (23-23), 2:20 p.m. EDT

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Dodgers vaulted to the top of the major league standings behind a record-setting start to the season at home.

Baseball's best team is now proving it can also be tough to beat away from there as well.

The Dodgers look for their first six-game road winning streak in more than two years Friday when they continue their four-game series against the Chicago Cubs.

Los Angeles (34-15) set a modern-day major league record by winning their first 13 games at Dodger Stadium. Though they haven't matched that success on the road, the Dodgers are playing markedly better away from Chavez Ravine, going 8-1 following an 8-9 start.

The Dodgers haven't won six consecutive road games since April 4-17, 2007.

After scoring 43 runs in the first four games of their run on the road, the Dodgers won 2-1 on Thursday in a rematch of last season's NL division series. Los Angeles, which swept Chicago (23-23) in last year's playoffs, won for the 12th time in 15 games to open up a nine-game lead in the NL West.

Former Cub Juan Pierre had two hits and scored a run, improving to 12 for 24 with seven RBIs and six runs during a five-game hitting streak. Pierre, who is replacing the suspended Manny Ramirez in left field, is 4 for 9 with two doubles lifetime against scheduled starter Ted Lilly (5-4, 3.77 ERA).

The two-time defending NL Central champions, meanwhile, lost for the ninth time in 11 games after learning staff ace Carlos Zambrano was suspended six games for his tirade in Wednesday's 5-2 win over Pittsburgh.

Chicago, which has been held to two runs or fewer in seven of 10 games, had runners on first and second with no outs in the eighth and the bases loaded with one out in the ninth, but failed to score.

"It was a very frustrating game," Alfonso Soriano told the Cubs' official Web site. "We have to keep fighting. It's only one game - there's three more. I hope we can put this game behind us."

Lilly has a 5.40 ERA in losing his last two starts after posting a 2.66 ERA in winning his first three May outings. On Sunday, he allowed five runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 7-2 defeat at San Diego.

The left-hander, who hasn't lost three consecutive starts since May 31-June 10, 2006 while with Toronto, is 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA in four starts at Wrigley Field this year.

Lilly hasn't faced Los Angeles since giving up two runs in 6 2-3 innings of an 8-2 victory on Sept. 5, 2007. He's 2-0 with a 3.93 ERA in three career starts versus the Dodgers, who counter with Chad Billingsley (6-2, 2.82).

He surrendered season-highs of five runs and nine hits in six innings of Sunday's 10-7 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

Just as Lilly has been his best at home, Billingsley has yet to lose on the road, going 2-0 with a 1.63 ERA in four starts as Los Angeles has won each time.

The right-hander pitched at Wrigley in Game 2 of the NLDS, giving up one run and five hits with seven strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings of a 10-3 victory. He went 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two regular-season starts against the Cubs last year.