Big start just enough for Dodgers to hold on

A 2-run double by James Loney and 2-run homer by Russell Martin led to a quick 4-0 lead in the 1st inning, and the Dodgers barely held on to beat the Cleveland Indians, 4-3. The win avoids a 3-game sweep.

It was good to see the Dodgers jump right on Indians pitcher Paul Byrd, who must have seemed like a slow-pitch softball pitcher after seeing Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia the previous 2 games. Juan Pierre singled, and Matt Kemp hit a ground rule double to put both men on. Loney then hit a double to score both. Martin, hitting cleanup again, stroked his 7th homer of the year, and before you knew it, it was 4-0.

You would think that a big start to the game like that would mean the offense would be locked in the rest of the game. Ah... perhaps you forgot these are the Dodgers we're talking about?! They went down in order the next 3 innings before finally getting 2 singles to start the 5th. But a double play ball by Kemp and a flyout by Loney took care of that. Those are the Dodgers we know and love!

Chad Billingsley picked up his 6th win of the year, but he's had better days. It must be nice to finally get a win when not having his best stuff. For once the offense picked him up (though, to be fair, it wasn't by much). He ended at 5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K. The big inning came in the 3rd when Grady Sizemore led off with a single, and 8 hitters went to the plate in a 3 run inning. 2 men were left on base when Kelly Shoppach struck out to end the inning.

That would be it for the scoring the rest of the game, mostly because the Dodgers' bullpen was fantastic. Hong-Chih Kuo, Joe Beimel, Jonathan Broxton, and Takashi Saito combined for 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 K. It was good to see Broxton and Saito get back to their old ways of shutting down the opposition in the 8th and 9th. That's more like it.

Monday is an off day, then the Chicago White Sox come into town for 3. They're currently leading the AL Central, though the Minnesota Twins are right on their heals. Derek Lowe goes in the first game, and he's been Good Lowe lately. They really need him to keep that up, as well as maybe throw in 3 hits and 4 RBI. The offense sure could use it.