LOS ANGELES — The old guard of the National League West will meet the potential successor as September will be ushered in this weekend with a four-game showdown at Dodger Stadium.The Dodgers have won five consecutive NL West titles http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-anthony-rizzo-jersey , but the Diamondbacks are poised to make a change at the top, and a weekend series in Los Angeles, starting Thursday, figures to set the tone for the drama ahead.The Diamondbacks have held the top spot in the National League West in all but two days in August. And since Aug. 8, Arizona has held at least a share of the division lead every day.Article continues below ...The Dodgers have gone through an inconsistent second half and were 4 1/2 games out of first place as recently as Friday, after they were swept in a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals last week.But they are on a tear now, entering the opener of the series on a five-game winning streak to match a season-best run.“The fact that we’re going into the next series against Arizona on a five-game winning streak and on a high, that’s huge,” said Los Angeles catcher Yasmani Grandal, who hit one of the three Dodgers home runs Wednesday. “(The Diamondbacks) are playing some pretty good baseball but it’s the end of the year. … If they sleep on us we’ll be able to go ahead and take first place.”Don’t expect the Diamondbacks to take anything for granted this weekend, not after they had lost four of five before winning handily Wednesday night at San Francisco behind the pitching of Zack Godley, who will not face the Dodgers.When the teams meet for the opener of the series on Thursday, the Diamondbacks will be on top in the NL West Kosuke Fukudome Jersey , with the Colorado Rockies a half-game back and the Dodgers one game back of Arizona in a tightly bunched group.“This is really what it’s all about,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said, according to mlb.com. “… We’ve talked about these moments, we’re prepared for these moments, and I think these guys are ready for this next set of challenges.”The Dodgers will have left-hander Rich Hill on the mound while the Diamondbacks will counter with a lefty of their own in Robbie Ray.Hill (6-4, 3.50 ERA) pitched a scoreless six innings against the San Diego Padres in a victory on Fiday and has given up two earned runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts. He appears to have shaken off blister issues that have plagued him in each of the past two seasons.Looming large, though, is Hill’s 0-5 record in seven starts against Arizona as a member of the Dodgers. The veteran has a 1.29 WHIP in those seven outings. Hill is 0-1 with a 12.00 ERA in two starts against the Diamondbacks this yearut both those starts were early in the season.Ray (3-2, 4.73) has kept his opponents in relative check over his last six starts with a 3.66 ERA, but all of those ended in no-decisions. In fact, the Diamondbacks are just 1-7 in Ray’s last eight starts and he hasn’t picked up a victory since June 27.Ray also spent time on the disabled list this year with an oblique issue that cost him two months in the first half. The Diamondbacks were 4-2 over Ray’s first six starts of the season.Ray is 6-3 lifetime against the Dodgers in 13 starts with a 2.69 ERA, and those six victories are his most against any one team.An expected Zack Greinke-Clayton Kershaw matchup Friday was nixed when the Dodgers moved Kershaw’s next start to Saturday’s third game in the series. CHICAGO (AP) — Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a sacrifice fly in Boston’s four-run seventh inning and a tiebreaking single in the ninth, helping the Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 9-4 on Thursday night.Ian Kinsler sparked the winning rally with a one-out single off Thyago Vieira (1-1) for the last of his three hits. Blake Swihart then walked before Bradley drove in Kinsler with a liner into right field.Major league-leading Boston poured it on from there. Andrew Benintendi added another RBI single and J.D. Martinez hit a three-run drive for his 39th homer http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-andre-dawson-jersey , making it 9-4 and sending much of the crowd of 18,015 to the exits.Mookie Betts also homered as the Red Sox (93-42) earned their third straight win and increased their AL East advantage to 8 1/2 games over the New York Yankees, who blew a late lead in an 8-7 loss to Detroit. Ryan Brasier (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth for his first win in his 28th major league appearance.Chicago (53-81) wasted a terrific start by Lucas Giolito, who struck out eight while pitching 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Avisail Garcia homered and drove in three runs, and Yolmer Sanchez collected three hits in the opener of a 10-game homestand.DIAMONDBACKS 3, DODGERS 1LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Peralta hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning and NL West-leading Arizona defeated Los Angeles in the opener of a pivotal series.The loss snapped the Dodgers‘ five-game winning streak, which they had put together against last-place San Diego and Texas. They struck out 15 times, including four by Chris Taylor.Robbie Ray (4-2) gave up one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Brad Boxberger got the final two outs in the ninth to earn his 31st save in 37 chances.Peralta sent his 26th homer into right field on the first pitch from Rich Hill with two outs, giving Arizona a 3-0 lead.Hill (6-5) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings. The left-hander struck out seven and walked none.BREWERS 2, REDS 1, 11 INNINGSCINCINNATI (AP) — Lorenzo Cain hit a home run off the top of the left field fence in the 11th inning and Milwaukee, a day after winning a slugfest that went extras, edged Cincinnati.NL batting leader Christian Yelich went 0 for 4 with a bases-loaded walk for Milwaukee. On Wednesday night Ron Santo Jersey , he went 6 for 6 and hit for the cycle as the Brewers outlasted Cincinnati 13-12 in 10 innings.The playoff-contending Brewers totaled just six hits in their latest victory. Cain hit the first pitch from Austin Brice (2-3) that hit the wall and bounced over for his 10th home run. Brice, recalled from Triple-A Louisville before the game, left with an apparent injury one out into the 11th.Joakim Soria (1-0) allowed a hit with two strikeouts in a scoreless 10th to get the win. Josh Hader pitched the 11th for his 11th save.TIGERS 8, YANKEES 7NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Martinez hit his second home run of the game and Niko Goodrum followed with a homer off Dellin Betances in the ninth inning, rallying Detroit past New York.The Tigers, last in the majors in home runs, connected five times and ended a five-game losing streak.Giancarlo Stanton hit his 300th career home run for the Yankees, who have lost three of four. They began the day 7 1/2 games behind Boston in the AL East and 4 1/2 games ahead of Oakland for the top wild-card spot.Luke Voit hit a two-run homer in the seventh that put the Yankees ahead 7-5.But Betances (4-4) walked Nicholas Castellanos with one out in the ninth and Martinez lined a drive to right for his 12th career multihomer game. Goodrum followed with a flyball that curled around the foul pole.Alex Wilson (2-4) earned the win with a perfect eighth and Shane Greene recorded his 28th save.INDIANS 5, TWINS 3CLEVELAND (AP) — Jason Kipnis hit a three-run homer that broke a sixth-inning tie and sent Cleveland over Minnesota.Mike Clevinger (10-7) allowed two unearned runs in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out nine and gave up four hits.Brad Hand, the Indians‘ third reliever, allowed a leadoff homer to Miguel Sano in the ninth. Mitch Garver drew a one-out walk, but Hand struck out Jake Cave and Tyler Austin for his 30th save overall, and sixth since being acquired from San Diego at the trade deadline.Cleveland reliever Cody Allen Ernie Banks Jersey , who allowed two runs in the seventh inning and was the losing pitcher Wednesday, was booed when he entered the game with one out in the eighth.Jake Odorizzi (5-9) was charged with three runs in 5 1/3 innings.CARDINALS 5, PIRATES 0ST. LOUIS (AP) — Harrison Bader and John Gant hit back-to-back home runs, Gant pitched into the sixth inning and St. Louis beat Pittsburgh.The Cardinals have won 17 of 21 and took their tenth consecutive series, their longest series winning streak since 2009, when they also won ten in a row.Gant (6-5) pitched out of a bases-loaded situation in the first and a two-on, no-out jam in the third to win for the third time in his last four tries. He struck out six in 5 2/3 innings and has allowed one earned run in his last 12 2/3 innings.Pirates starter Joe Musgrove (5-8) opened the game with 21 consecutive strikes, a first in the majors since pitch tracking began in 1988, according to Stats. That control didn’t do him much good, though. He gave up five runs in six innings.CUBS 5, BRAVES 4ATLANTA (AP) — Tommy La Stella hit the first pinch-hit homer of his career against his former team, carrying Chicago over Atlanta in a matchup of NL division leaders.After Atlanta went ahead with a three-run fifth, La Stella launched a two-run shot off Mike Foltynewicz (10-9) that nearly reached the Chop House restaurant above the right-field seats .It was also La Stella’s first homer of the season. Freddie Freeman had three RBIs for the Braves.Brandon Kintzler (2-3) claimed the win by getting the final out of the fifth. Pedro Strop worked the ninth for his 11th save.ANGELS 5 http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-ryne-sandberg-jersey , ASTROS 2HOUSTON (AP) — Andrew Heaney threw six scoreless innings, Andrelton Simmons capped a four-run sixth inning with a three-run double and Los Angeles beat Houston.Heaney (8-8) scattered five hits with six strikeouts to earn his first road win since Sept. 2, 2015, at Oakland.Justin Verlander (13-9) allowed three runs and five hits but struck out 11 in 5 1/3 innings. Verlander allowed three or more runs for the third straight start.Tyler White hit a two-run homer to left field in the ninth as Houston avoided the shutout.PADRES 3, ROCKIES 2, 13 INNINGSSAN DIEGO (AP) — Franmil Reyes homered with two outs in the 13th inning to give San Diego a victory over Colorado.Reyes connected off Bryan Shaw (4-6) for his 12th homer. It was only the sixth hit for San Diego. The Rockies had only three hits.Robert Stock (1-1) pitched three innings for the win.Wil Myers committed three errors at third base and struck out three times. The Padres had 16 strikeouts.MARINERS 7, ATHLETICS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Wade LeBlanc pitched seven scoreless innings, Mitch Haniger hit his 23rd home run and Seattle jumped on Oakland early and held on for a victory.Robinson Cano had two hits and an RBI after being dropped down a spot in the batting order after second baseman Jean Segura was scratched. Dee Gordon and Ryon Healy added two hits apiece. Haniger homered off Frankie Montas (5-4) with one out in the fourth.LeBlanc (8-3) allowed three hits and three walks with four strikeouts. He retired 12 of his final 13 batters to win for the second time in his last seven starts.