(Sports Network) - The top two teams in the National League West begin a crucial three-game September showdown tonight in Los Angeles, where the Dodgers put their winning streak on the line against the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks.

Los Angeles has closed the gap on the Diamondbacks by winning their last five contests, including a pair of clashes with Arizona at Chase Field this past weekend. That surge has moved the Dodgers within 1 1/2 games of the division's top spot.

Manager Joe Torre will also be sending out a red-hot pitcher for this evening's opener in Derek Lowe, who handcuffed the Arizona lineup in his most recent trip to the mound.

Lowe fired six shutout innings in which he yielded just four hits and a walk in Sunday's 8-1 triumph over the Diamondbacks. The effort improved the veteran sinker-baller to 2-1 with a stellar 1.32 earned run average over his last four starts.

The 35-year-old has also been plenty good on the Dodger Stadium mound this season, having amassed an 8-5 record and a 2.64 ERA in his 15 home starts.

Lowe will be facing Arizona for the fifth time in 2008 and has gone 2-1 with a 2.78 ERA so far against the D-Backs this year. For his career, the right- hander is 5-7 with a 4.01 ERA through 16 lifetime encounters with Arizona.

Los Angeles kicked off its current six-game homestand by winning three straight meetings over last-place San Diego earlier in the week, including a 6-4 decision in Wednesday's finale.

Blake DeWitt and Angel Berroa hit back-to-back home runs during a four-run fourth inning for the Dodgers, who also received a solo shot from Casey Blake.

Blake ended 2-for-4 with two RBI to help Los Angeles improve its strong home record to 42-30 for the season, while Berroa collected a pair of hits and scored twice.

Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda (8-10) picked up the win despite allowing four runs and 10 hits over the first 5 1/3 innings.

Arizona has dropped seven of its last 10 games but comes in off a much-needed victory on Wednesday. The Diamondbacks scored twice in the bottom of the ninth inning to rally for a 4-3 triumph over St. Louis and take the rubber match of a three-game set from Chase Field.

Conor Jackson went 2-for-5 with two RBI and tied the contest with a run- scoring single in the ninth. He then scored the winning run by racing home from first base on a double off the bat of Adam Dunn.

The comeback made a winner out of reliever Chad Qualls (4-8), who held the Cardinals scoreless in the top of the ninth. Doug Davis worked the first six innings for Arizona and allowed three runs on eight hits.

Taking the hill tonight for the Diamondbacks will be Dan Haren. The All-Star pitcher struggled in a loss to Los Angeles on Saturday, but has still compiled an outstanding 14-7 record and a 3.24 ERA over his 28 season starts.

Haren was reached for five runs and 10 hits, including homers by Manny Ramirez and Matt Kemp, in a six-inning stint during his recent matchup with LA. That capped a subpar August for the right-hander, who posted a 5.63 ERA in six starts for the month.

Like Lowe, Haren will be opposing tonight's foe for the fifth time in 2008. He is 2-2 with a 4.18 ERA against the Dodgers this year and 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in six career games (5 starts) versus Los Angeles.

Arizona has a slight 8-7 edge in this year's season series between these NL West rivals, with the clubs having split six previous games at Dodger Stadium.