The Dodgers came into yesterday's game with a tall order. They were going to face Cy Young favorite Brandon Webb, and first place hung in the balance. They've been here before, teetering on the edge of first, only to lose and fall back.
But that was then, and this is now.
Manny Ramirez drove in 5 with a 2-run shot and a double, and Chad Billingsley went 6 plus innings to shut down the Diamondbacks, 7-2. With the win, it's the Dodgers who finally find themselves in first place again since virtually the start of the season by 1/2 a game.
Much like Friday night, this game was surprisingly easy. Actually, the last 4 games against the DBacks were so easy, the Dodgers practically never broke a sweat. For as poorly as the Dodgers played for a couple of weeks, it was Arizona that blew a great opportunity to put this division away. They're the ones who look completely lost right now.
Both Billingsley and Webb were throwing blanks through the first 4 innings, and it looked for awhile that the first mistake made by either man would mean a loss. The Dodgers had 2 on in the 3rd, but Manny struck out to end the inning. Other than that, there were little to no threats.
Fortunately for LA, it was Webb who made the first mistake. In the bottom of the 5th, Angel Berroa led off with a single (I can't believe how often I've talked about his hitting lately - it's like a completely different person). After Billingsley and Russell Martin failed to reach, there would be more 2 out magic for the Dodgers. Andre Ethier drew a walk, and Manny unloaded on a 3-run bomb to go up 3-0. I can't imagine just how much Ethier is loving life right now hitting in front of Manny.
From there, Webb just seemed to fall apart, as he uncharacteristically just handed the Dodgers walk after walk. The bottom of the 6th started with a walk to Casey Blake, and 2 more would soon be added. Too bad for Webb that both of those walks to Martin and Ethier would force in runs. With the bases loaded and 2 outs, Manny lifted a deep fly ball to Justin Upton in right, who lost that ball in the sun, landing near him and bouncing into the stands for a ground rule double. Even if that was caught, the Dodgers were still comfortably ahead, so it didn't matter.
The DBacks didn't score until the 9th when the game was well in hand, as Scott Elbert let a couple of guys on. I'm not worried - he's still got nasty stuff, so he'll be ok. Billingsley had another ace-like start, going 6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K. I just wish the offense could have scored more runs for him in the beginning of the season so his record would be more impressive, because if that was the case, he'd certainly be in the Cy Young chase right now.
Today's game is just like yesterday, where the winner gets first place. As great as the Dodgers have played, a loss would mean they're right back to where they started (granted, not in as bad a spot). Clayton Kershaw gets the call, as Joe Torre likes how he looks against the DBacks. Randy Johnson was supposed to start, but has been scratched with a sore shoulder. So, it's another young fireballer, Max Scherzer, who will go. That'll be fun to watch.
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