All of the expectations of Chad Billingsley eventually becoming the team ace are coming true. With injuries everywhere on the team, it couldn't have come at a better time.
Bills went 7.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K as the Dodgers scored 3 in the 6th to beat the Washington Nationals, 3-2. Arizona also won (though to be fair, it should only count for half a win since it was over the Giants), so their lead is still 1 over LA in the NL West.
This was pretty much your typical, uneventful, runs-are-scare, Dodger-like game. It only took 2:16 to complete, as both Billingsley and John Lannan were mowing through the hitters with ease. The only run in the first 5 innings came when Nationals leadoff hitter Willie Harris hit a sac-fly to center to score old friend Paul Lo Duca for a 1-0 lead.
The Dodgers only had 2 hits (and 2 double plays grounded into) until the 6th, when they finally made some noise. Juan Pierre started it off with a single, and he went to 2nd when Matt Kemp singled as well. Russell Martin hit in the #3 spot and was beaned, loading the bases with none out. Jeff Kent then lined out to short for 1 down. Nomar Garciaparra came up huge with a single to score 2 and take the 2-1 lead. James Loney then grounded out to 2nd, but scored Martin, who was on 3rd at the time, and it was 3-1 after 6.
Both teams went down in order in the 7th, and Billingsley was allowed to start the 8th. He gave up a walk to start, but then got the next 2 hitters out. Ryan Zimmerman blooped a single into center to make it a 1 run game. After an Austin Kearns single to put 2 on, Jonathan Broxton's name was called to try for a 4 out save. He started it out perfectly with a strikeout of Jesus Flores to end the threat.
It was smooth sailing after that, as 2 flyouts and a groundout ended the game and gave Broxton his 3rd straight save since taking over for the injured Takashi Saito. So far, so good. Much better than last year where he looked lost in the closer's role. Maybe that trial run has helped him succeed this time around.
The 10-game homestand has started off with a win, and they need much more of those to get back the NL West lead. Derek Lowe goes today in a matchup against another old friend, Odalis Perez. Perez has actually been decent, with a 3.99 ERA despite having only 3 win.
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