Game Preview: Game 138 @ Los Angeles Dodgers

After dropping the opening game on Monday, our boys evened up the series with an extra-inning 6-3 win last night. Tonight they will try to avoid losing back-to-back series as they finish up their three-game set in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers will send Aaron Harang to the mound to face his former team. He will be looking for his first win at Chavez Ravine since July 4th. The Dodgers have lost in each of Harang's last five starts at home, a stretch in which he has gone 0-3 and posted a 6.04 ERA. The first of those five games was a loss to our Padres on July 14th. Harang pitched seven innings and surrendered four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk. Among those hits were two home runs. This will be his fifth start against us this season, having gone 1-1 in his first four.

In his most recent start, Harang gave up three runs on five hits in five innings against Arizona, who went on to beat the Dodgers 4-3 in extra innings. He will need some more good run support from his offense, who hasn't played badly in these first two games. Harang's fellow former Padre Adrian Gonzalez has gone 3-for 8 with a double and an RBI in the first two games of the series. He'll try to get some more hits tonight off Clayton Richard, against whom he has hit 3-for-3 all-time.

Richard has 11 career starts against the Dodgers and a 6-2 record to show for it. However, his two losses both occured at Dodger Stadium, one of which was earlier this year. He gave up only two earned runs on five hits in seven innings, but his offense only gave him one run of support so he took the loss. His other start at Dodger Stadium this season was a four-run, six-hit, six-inning appearance that resulted in a no-decision for him and a loss for the team.

Richard is riding a hot streak lately, winning five of his last six starts while going at least 6 1/3 innings (including a five-hit complete game shutout) in each of them. He most recently came out on the winning end of a 5-4 decision in Colorado. He gave up three earned runs on eight hits at Coors Field and lasted 6 1/3 innings.

Despite losing three of our last four games, our offense has kept it close. Logan Forsythe brought home the go-ahead run in the 11th inning last night and has gone 7-for-19 at Dodger Stadium this season. Over his last seven games, he's hitting .440 with five RBI. Chase Headley continues to find success after having an outstanding August. Over these first two games, he's gone 4-for-11 with a home run, two runs scored, and four RBI. He's hitting .417 over his last five games and looks to keep mashing against his former teammate Harang tonight.