SoCal MLB NL Preview

Pittsburgh (7-6) at LA Dodgers (5-8), 7:10 pm

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - To say Andruw Jones has not lived up to expectations would be an understatement, but he is showing signs of life. Jones looks to build on his first multi-hit game of the season on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers try and take the rubber game of a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jeff Kent homered and drove in three runs, and Russell Martin added solo shot as the Dodgers posted an 11-2 victory on Tuesday.

Los Angeles surely has to be disappointed with Jones' performance thus far. Jones, who signed a two-year, $36 million free agent contract this offseason, had two hits on Tuesday to raise his average to a paltry .148 (7-for-47). Jones will try and get on track against Paul Maholm (0-1, 4.35 ERA), who allowed just six hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.

Meanwhile, Brad Penny (1-2, 3.86) will look to bounce back from a pair of sub-par outings. The hard-throwing righthander has allowed four runs and 10 hits over six innings in each of his last two starts - both losses. Dodgers' first baseman James Loney and Pirates outfielder Nate McLouth each bring a 14-game hitting streak into Wednesday's game.